HURIWA urges IGP, AGF to investigate pending petition against top Police officers

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has urged the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun to investigate a longstanding petition written to his offices by a Nigerian-American citizen Mr. Bonaventure Ezekwenna, alleging series of corrupt practices by some top police officers at the Police Headquarters in Abuja.

The rights group said some of the allegations are so serious that if confirmed to be verifiable, then these police officers should be sanctioned to safeguard national security.

HURIWA through a statement by its National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, tasked the Federal Attorney General and the Minister of justice Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) to also probe the allegations with a view to ascertain whether there are ingredients of crimes of fraud so the individuals are prosecuted and sanctioned in line with the rule of law.

The Rights group asserted that the Police Service Commission must play a central role in staging its own independent probe of the allegations with a view to bringing those indicted to justice.

Ezekwenna had in the petition, said, “I’m compelled to write this open letter to you with hope your attention will help to overcome the alleged gross corruption I have encountered at FCID Headquarters, Abuja, the highest investigation arm of the Nigeria Police Force nationwide, since August 2022.

“This is in regards to gross corruption of a police officer at Special Enquiry Bureau, Force Criminal Investigation Department (SEB-FCID) Headquarters Abuja, Nigeria.

“Recently (June 20, 2024), I submitted a petition to the Inspector-General of Police Dr. Kayode Egbetokun, which I copied The Chairman of Police Service Commission, Ambassador of United States in Nigeria and Consulate General of United States in Nigeria.

“In the petition I detailed alleged specific criminalities and misconducts of a very corrupt CSP at SEB-FCID Hqtrs Abuja allegedly hired by a hardcore yahoo+ criminal syndicate based at Nnobi town, Idemili South LGA, Anambra State, Nigeria to thwart my effort to get justice in Nigeria judicial system.

“This very alleged corrupt police officer and his team arrested me on what they clearly know was a framed false allegations, with hope to intimidate, frighten, extort and force me to abandon my quest for justice in Nigerian justice system.

“This very alleged corrupt police officer and his team unlawfully detained me overnight at Area F Police Command Ikeja Lagos because I refused to oblige their huge appetite and demand for bribe.”

The petitioner alleged also that the police officer refused to interview and take the statement of a Benin Republic national who allegedly confessed his membership of hardcore yahoo+ cult crimes syndicate in Nnobi and Amichi towns in Anambra State, simply because the alleged confessed estranged cult member revealed the criminal activities of the criminal syndicate the officer is bent on protecting.

The petitioner accused the police officer of suppressing the damaging statements the Benin Republic gang-member made at SCID Lagos and FCID Alagbon Lagos in which he allegedly revealed the alleged yahoo+ cult criminal activities of his group at Nnobi town, Amichi town and other surrounding towns in Anambra State.