The Police High Command said today that Corporal Anthony Onoja, who is alleged to have committed rape against a minor in Nassarawa State, has since been dismissed from the Force and charged to court.
The Police High Command said today that Corporal Anthony Onoja, who is alleged to have committed rape against a minor in Nassarawa State, has since been dismissed from the Force and charged to court.
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Dismissing accusations of complacency on the part of the Force in handling the case, police spokesman Frank Mba said in a statement that the Force on 13th September, 2013 dismissed Onoja, who allegedly raped a minor at Kabayi area of Mararaba in Nasrawa State. He was then charged to a Nasarawa High Court, on 15th September, for the offence of rape, under Charge sheet No NSD/77C/2013.
He said Onoja’s dismissal came after an in-house administrative disciplinary panel had indicted him for the disciplinary offences of discreditable conduct and conduct unbecoming of a Police Officer, following which a criminal investigation was conducted by the Anti-Human Rights Section of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Nasarawa State Police Command. The prosecution is being conducted by the Office of the DPP.
“The Nigeria Police Force, in the light of the foregoing, finds it rather preposterous that well meaning Nigerians will insinuate that the Force concealed and thereby condoned the condemnable action of Anthony Onoja,” the statement said. “Without fear of contradiction, the Nigeria Police Force remains one of the most self cleansing institutions in the country and has always disciplined its erring personnel without any prompting from any quarter.”
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Mr. Mba further stated that the IGP has appealed to the general public to desist from blanket judgment against members of the Force for the misdeed of one of its members, as the Force, like any other institution in the country, is made up of persons who might not be perfect in all ramifications, just as there is no perfect institution anywhere in the world.
“While the present Police Administration is determined to pursue the Reformation agenda of the Force, with the objective of bequeathing a People-friendly Police to Nigerians, it will be necessary to remind all that this task demands a collective effort. The IGP further assured Nigerians of the readiness of his Administration to ensure that all essential components of his on-going reforms are achieved and that the Force will remain focused in the discharge of its duties.”
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