RULAAC had 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 Edo State Police Command says it has begun investigation into an alleged professional misconduct, abuse of office and extortion of millions of Naira from a local petroleum businesswoman by a senior officer and his team members.
The command was reacting to a petition sent by the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), a civic group, accusing the Commissioner of Police in the state, Abutu Yaro of releasing suspects involved in the stealing and adulteration of petroleum products in Benin City without investigation.
RULAAC had 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.
It 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 meter ticket numbers were recovered from them.
However, the deputy spokesperson for the command, Iwegbu U. Jennifer, in a statement said the suspects were released after it was discovered that its men, led by one SP Ngwokor Friday, were involved in extortion.
The statement read, “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 receipt 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.”