RULAAC in a statement by its Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma named the suspects as Sunday Chukwuka ‘M’; Julius Omoniyi ‘M’, Nelson Gabriel ‘M’ Temple Ogandu ‘M’ Osaretin Bigdaddy ‘M’, Destiny Edowouyi ‘M’ Demian Joseph ‘M’; Peter Ovie ‘M’ and Abhulimen Austin.
The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), a civic group, has accused the Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Abutu Yaro of releasing suspects involved in the stealing and adulteration of petroleum products in Benin City without investigation.
RULAAC in a statement by its Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma named the suspects as Sunday Chukwuka ‘M’; Julius Omoniyi ‘M’, Nelson Gabriel ‘M’ Temple Ogandu ‘M’ Osaretin Bigdaddy ‘M’, Destiny Edowouyi ‘M’ Demian Joseph ‘M’; Peter Ovie ‘M’ and Abhulimen Austin.
According to the group, 600 gallons of 20 litres each of chemicals used for the adulteration of petroleum products loaded in a truck, 5 pumping machines, and three blank waybills without metre ticket numbers were recovered from them.
RULAAC further alleged that the police boss gets N2 million daily from oil theft from several locations in Edo through someone who allegedly coordinates economic sabotage in the state.
The statement read, “Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the CIB stormed two premises at Km 16 area along Benin-Sapele Road, Benin city and discovered an environment used for storage of suspected stolen petroleum products from vandalized pipelines and adulteration of petroleum products by adding chemical known as 'Liverage Base Part 2’ commonly known as acid.
“That a video coverage of the scene was made by the operatives where machines/equipment used for the adulteration and over 12 surface tanks of about 180,000 litres capacity each were captured in the video. That preliminary investigation revealed that the premises is (sic) owned by one Dalington Itohan and vandalized petroleum products are stolen from vandalized pipelines.”
It alleged that the suspects were released allegedly on the orders of the police commissioner.
It continued, “That the sum of 7 million Naira was passed through the Anti kidnapping team. SP Balogun is the head of Anti Kidnapping Unit.
“That curiously, after the suspects were arrested by SIB personnel, they were ordered by the CP to immediately transfer the suspects to the Anti Kidnapping Unit who proceeded to promptly release them upon financial consideration. That the name of the woman at the head of this economic sabotage is given as Itohan Evans. That another unit that does (sic) is involved in this is the monitoring team and these teams report directly to the CP.
“That a false petition was caused to be written against the men of the SIB to the IGP casting them in bad light while under the table, the Anti Kidnapping team collected 7m from the suspects through the O/C Anti kidnapping. That so many huge corrupt practices are allegedly being perpetrated using the Monitoring team, the Anti-Kidnapping team and the Critical Rapid Response Unit (CRRU) team led by one SP. Osagie. That the CP is alleged to have created these and other teams to rake in illicit funds.
“That many of the members of the erstwhile discredited Abba Kyari’s IRT are involved in this cartel. That someone’s land was seized on behalf of the CPs wife to build shops only to be ordered by the IGP to demolish the illegal structure upon receiving a complaint against the CPs obnoxious and corrupt conduct
“That Yaro Abutu who as CP Imo was accused of ordering many unlawful killings is accused of being capable of killing anyone for money. That the CP gets 2m Naira daily from oil theft (bunkering) business from several locations in Edo through a coordinator who is coordinating economic sabotage in the state. That the white CLK Mercedes the CP now uses was gifted to him by Yahoo boys (Internet fraudsters) who contributed to make that possible. The two phones he presently holds were also gifted to him by Yahoo boys.
However, when SaharaReporters contacted the police commissioner, Abutu Yaro on the phone, he said he was not aware of the statement issued by RULAAC.
“I’m not aware of any statement from RULAAC, you can bring it to my office or ask someone to bring it,” he said.