Oboh described his dismissal as “unfair, unjust and unlawful,” urging the police authorities to review what he called grave procedural irregularities and a miscarriage of justice.
A dismissed police inspector, Hycenth Oboh (Ex-AP No. 228886), has petitioned the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force, alleging that he has unlawfully been detained for 583 days in a police cell in Rivers State without trial or arraignment for any specific offence, and dismissed from service without justification.
Earlier, Saharareporters reported that the Nigeria Police Force had dismissed 12 inspectors and one corporal over allegations of discreditable conduct, including unlawful exercise of authority and damage to property.
An internal police wireless message dated December 29, 2025, and issued by the Commissioner of Police, Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), Port Harcourt, said the decision followed a directive from the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 16, Yenagoa.
According to the message obtained by SaharaReporters exclusively on Thursday, the AIG reviewed the orderly room proceedings involving the affected officers and upheld the punishment of dismissal from the force, with effect from November 20, 2025.
However, in an appeal dated January 15, 2026 and addressed to the Commissioner of Police (Force Provost Marshal) at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, Oboh described his dismissal as “unfair, unjust and unlawful,” urging the police authorities to review what he called grave procedural irregularities and a miscarriage of justice.
“The decision relied upon by the AIG was based on an orderly room trial that was full of bias, inconsistencies and lacked empirical evidence against me,” Oboh stated in the petition.
According to the petition, the events that led to Oboh’s ordeal occurred on June 18, 2024, when he was deployed alongside other officers on special duty to Eberi, Omuma Local Government Area, for the inauguration of a Caretaker Committee set up by the Rivers State Government.
While the inauguration was ongoing at the council secretariat, Oboh said sporadic gunshots rang out outside the venue, forcing him to flee for safety. The incident later resulted in the death of Inspector David Mgbada, who was serving as escort commander to a federal lawmaker, Hon. Kelechi Nwogu.
Following the incident, Oboh said he and 11 other officers were arrested and detained for interrogation by officers of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Port Harcourt.
Cleared in Initial Trial
Oboh stated that after investigations, the investigating police officer recommended a departmental trial on three counts: discreditable conduct, unlawful exercise of authority, and damage to articles.
“All six prosecution witnesses who testified in the orderly room trial were present at the scene and did not indict me on any of the charges,” he said.
He added that the trial, conducted by a senior officer identified as SP Dan Udoh (now retired), ended with his discharge and acquittal.
“I was released from detention and allowed to continue my duty,” Oboh said.
Second Trial Leads To Dismissal
However, Oboh alleged that he was later subjected to a second orderly room trial, conducted by CSP Dawn Emerie, alongside other officers.
“Without any additional evidence, and in an orderly room full of bias and inconsistencies, I was found guilty and recommended for dismissal,” he said.
The appeal faulted the decision of the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Johnson Ademola, who upheld the recommendation of the second trial while allegedly ignoring the outcome of the earlier trial that cleared him.
“I was deeply surprised that the AIG relied solely on the second trial and failed to review the decision of the initial orderly room conducted on 14 August 2024,” Oboh stated.
583 Days in Detention Without Charge
Perhaps most troubling in the petition is Oboh's claim that he has been held in continuous detention since August 28, 2024.
“I have been subjected to illegal, unlawful and continuous detention without any court order, without any formal charge, and without further investigation,” he wrote.
He stated that, as of Thursday, January 22, he had been in detention for 583 days, during which he was denied the opportunity to attend his promotion interview for the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) alongside his contemporaries.
Oboh is now urging the police authorities to conduct a “thorough and comprehensive review” of his case, reinstate him into the Nigeria Police Force, and allow him to benefit from promotions he said he unjustly lost.
“I humbly appeal for the redress of these injustices and restoration into the Nigeria Police Force,” he wrote, expressing confidence that the Force Headquarters would “diligently examine the facts.”