BY MIKE OSAROGIAGBON
Benin City, Nigeria – In what looks like a drastic house-cleaning measure, Edo State Police Command
said it has arrested seven policemen and set up an Ad-hoc committee to investigate allegations of official corruption levelled against its personnel across the state.
The command also stated that the seven arrested and detained personnel are under investigation in connection with cases of official corruption.
Edo State Commissioner of Police, CP Abutu Yaro set up the Ad-hoc committee headed by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Operations, ACP James Chu in Benin City.
This was contained in a statement released by the command Deputy Public Relations Officer, ASP Jennifer Iwegbu and made available to journalists in Benin City, on Friday, August 5, 2022.
“The Command wishes to state that the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, CP Abutu Yaro, fdc, has set up an Ad-Hoc committee headed by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Operations, ACP James Chu with phone number 08035511263 and the Command’s Provost Marshall CSP Avanrenren Godwin with phone number 08058813590 as the Deputy Chairman of the committee.
“The need for the committee is to checkmate all cases of official corruption of officers and men of the command, investigate and mete out relevant disciplinary actions on such erring officers.”
It added that setting up of the ad-hoc committee is also not unconnected with an online video making the rounds on twitter where a Police Personnel was seen engaging in an extortion conversation with a road user identified as Arc BOLU.
The statement identified the erring policeman on the viral video as one Constable Victor Osabuohien of F/No 524971 PC who has been arrested, detained and is currently undergoing investigation.
“The attention of the Edo State Police Command has been drawn to an online video making rounds on twitter where a Police Personnel was seen engaging in an extortion conversation with a road user identified as Arc BOLU on the social media platform.
“Other Police Operatives that have also been arrested before now on the grounds of official corruption and are undergoing investigations while awaiting disciplinary actions includes; 1. AP/No 135192 ASP God’spower Ijebu, 2. AP/No 199776 Inspr Ebatamole Philip, 3. AP/No 271855 Inspr Ademola Benjamin, 4. AP/No 271825 Inspr Inaite Vincent, 5. AP/No 271897 Inspr Robert Esikise, 6. AP/No 200713 Inspr Adefaye Samuel,” the statement added.
It enjoined the good people of Edo state including victims official corruption, extortion and checking of phones to make judicious use of the above phone numbers as their complaints would aid the committee in their investigations and serve justice accordingly.
The statement charged law-abiding citizens to go about their normal activities and do not hesitate to report any misconduct of any personnel of the Command whether on duty or off duty.
