IG orders suspension, prosecution of four officers for stealing ₦43m

The Nigeria Police Force has announced the suspension of four officers implicated in the theft of ₦43.16 million from a total of ₦74.95 million recovered during an unauthorised arrest at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Wednesday, disclosed that the officers—DSP Peter Ejike, Inspector Ekende Edwin, Inspector Esther Okafor, and Sergeant Talabi Kayode, all attached to Zone 7 Headquarters—were found guilty of conspiring to tamper with exhibits, abuse of office, and other acts of misconduct.

According to Adejobi, the officers, led by Inspector Okafor under DSP Ejike’s directive, arrested Andrew Ejah, an employee of FATFAD Cargo Nigeria Limited, who was transporting the cash on behalf of clients in August 2023.

The officers were alleged to have reported only ₦31.79 million as the recovered amount, concealing the remaining ₦43.16 million.

Following a petition by the owners of the money, the case was escalated to the IGP Monitoring Unit.

Adejobi said investigations revealed that the officers conspired to steal part of the cash and attempted to hide their tracks by claiming technical issues with evidence and spreading false narratives.

He said, “Upon being contacted by the alleged owners of the money, the officers claimed that the sum they had recovered from the arrested suspect was N31,790,000, and requested a percentage of the money to jeopardise investigation and suppress the case. Outraged by their actions, the money owners petitioned the Force Headquarters, Abuja and the matter was directed to the IGP Monitoring Unit for investigation.

“During the process, the cash sum of N31,790,000 was recovered from the officers, who claimed that it was the total money recovered from Andrew Ejah during his arrest.

“After intense investigations and a series of trials, before duly constituted disciplinary panels, it was discovered that the officers took photographs of the suspect and the sacks of monies at the point of arrest but claimed the phone they used was damaged and subsequently lost, in an attempt to conceal their misconduct.”

He added that they resorted to several tricks and gimmicks to cover their tracks, including the spread of false narratives and misinformation to several online blogs and newspaper platforms.

“These officers have been suspended, being found culpable of serious misconduct, tampering with exhibits, abuse of office, corrupt practice, illegal duty, and acts unbecoming of a police officer,” the statement added.

Adejobi condemned what it described as a “sponsored misinformation campaign” aimed at implicating the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, in the scandal.

He also dismissed allegations suggesting that the IGP is shielding a cartel accused of smuggling suspicious new banknotes from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

He said, “It is pertinent to note that the circulating false narrative is a sponsored misinformation cultivated by mischief makers who seek to divert attention from the criminal acts of the police officers by attempting to join issues with the Inspector-General of Police. The affected officers will be prosecuted upon conclusion of due legal and administrative procedures.

“We urge the public and the media to refrain from spreading this false narrative aimed at tainting the reputation of the Inspector-General of Police. Such misinformation undermines public trust and detracts from the ongoing efforts of the current administration to reform the Police Force by eradicating unprofessional elements.”