18th October, 2022
By Jethro Ibileke
Police have denied an online report allegedly published Sahara Reporters, which claimed that Edo Command’s CP, Abutu Yaro, illegally released suspected oil thieves after collecting ₦7 million bribe.
The command’s Deputy spokesperson, ASP Jennifer Iwegbu, in a statement Monday night, described the report as frivolous, mischievous, unfounded and aimed at obliterating the its efforts in crime-fighting.
Rather, Iwegbu’s statement clarified that following a petition to the office of the CP alleging the involvement of some of its operatives in bribe-taking, the officers were identified and arrested for investigation.
The statement reads:
“The Edo State Police Command has been inundated with an online publication by Sahara Reporters of 17/10/2022 with the caption ‘Civic Group, RULAAC Accuses Edo Police Commissioner Of Releasing Suspected Oil Thieves Without Investigation After Collecting N7m Bribe’ which is not only frivolous but mischievous, unfounded and aimed at obliterating the Command’s efforts in crime fighting.
“The Command in a bid to put the record straight, wishes to state as follows: On 07/10/2022 the Command through the office of the Commissioner of Police received a petition titled Official Corruption, Malicious Damage and Illegal Dealings on Petroleum Products from One Patra Okute and Associates, Law Firm on behalf of their client, one Mrs Itohan Obasuyi against SP Ngwokor Friday and team attached to the Command’s State Intelligence Bureau, Benin-city.
“Upon reciept of the petition, it was endorsed to the Anti kidnapping unit of the command for discreet investigation. The alleged officers were identified and arrested, while all parties involved made statements accordingly.
“During the investigation, it was established that on 06/10/2022, SP Ngwokor Friday led a team of operatives of State Intelligence Bureau Benin, to Iyanomoh and Agbonmwonba communities of Edo state, where about nine persons were arrested for allegedly engaging in illicit dealings of petroleum products.
“Upon this backdrop, the complainant, Mrs Itohan Obasuyi alleged that SP Ngwokor Friday and his team have arrested her workers severally and they have always settled with amounts ranging from one million naira to one million, three hundred thousand naira ( #1,000,000.00- 1,300,000.00).
“Consequently, the complainant’s reluctance to oblige the officers to the tune of two million naira (#2,000,000.00) led to her petition to the Commissioner of Police Edo State Command.
“To this end, the investigation revealed that it is evident that the complainant is into local petroleum business and the continuous arrest of her workers by SP Ngwokor Friday and team is for pecuniary gains which amounts to Official Corruption and as such an Official Query with Ref no: SH:4710/EDS/Vol.1/104 dated 13/10/2022 on Serious Misconduct was issued to the supervising officer of the team in person of SP Ngwokor Friday while the junior officers that are members of his team booked for orderly room trial, as the Force disciplinary measures,” the statement added.