SaharaReporters earlier reported that Nwanguma was invited by the Edo State Police Command of the Nigeria Police Force over a petition against the Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro.
The Executive Director of a civic group known as the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Okechukwu Nwanguma, has written to the Edo State Commissioner of Police, declining to honour the invitation by the police.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that Nwanguma was invited by the Edo State Police Command of the Nigeria Police Force over a petition against the Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro.
RULAAC had accused CP Yaro of releasing suspects involved in the stealing and adulteration of petroleum products in Benin City without investigation.
The group identified 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.
RULAAC alleged that 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.
It 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.
Following the allegation, the police in a letter dated October 19, requested Nwanguma to appear at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Benin City on Friday, October 21.
But Nwanguma through his lawyer, Samuel Akpologun, in a letter dated October 19, 2022, and addressed to the Commissioner of Police said that to honour the police invitation would amount to a travesty of the law and a breach of the principles of natural justice, equity and good conscience.
The letter read, “We are solicitors to Mr. Okechukwu Nwanguma (our client) on whose instructions we write this letter. Our client is the Executive Director of Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, RULAAC.
“Our client has referred the letter of invitation emanating from the office of the DCP dated 19th October 2022 to our office. In the said letter, our client was invited to dialogue with the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Benin City on Friday 21 October in respect of a Sahara Reporters publication on a case of "conspiracy, official corruption and corrupt practices" which was published on 17th October 2022.
“Our client has a lot of respect for the police and indeed, your office. Our client and the organization he heads are friends and supporters of the police, and for that matter, proponents of police reforms in Nigeria. This underscored why our client would have readily honoured the said invitation.
“However, our client is of the considered view that it would amount to travesty of the law and a breach of the principles of Natural Justice, equity and good conscience to honour the said invitation, as same would amount to submitting to a judge in his own cause.
“Furthermore, the allegations your office purports to be investigating involve the Edo State Commissioner of Police which the office of the DCP reports to. Meanwhile, it is of common or public knowledge that the matter is already being investigated by the Police Force Headquarters in Abuja.
“In view of the aforesaid and in the interest of justice and the rule of law, our client is prepared to contribute his bit, as allowed by the law, in getting to the roots of this matter under an impartial investigation.”