Assistant Inspector General in charge of zone 2 Command of the Nigeria Police Force, Adamu Ibrahim, has upheld the recommendation of a disciplinary body that recommended the dismissal of four policemen attached to Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Ikeja, Lagos.
The four policemen were dismissed and subsequently charged to court on offences of armed robbery, kidnapping, unlawful detention, intimidation and threatening violence after an investigation carried out against them following a petition submitted against them on May 2, 2018 by one Chukwudi Godwin Odionye popularly referred to as ‘Bishop’.
Odionye in his petition stated that on June 4, 2017, he was in his house around Alagbado, Lagos when the four armed men stormed his house to effect his arrest on the allegation of performing fake miracles.
He stated that after his arrest, he was taken to one hotel in Agege where he was detained and threatened to be killed if he failed to cooperate. He explained further that on the following day, he was taken to the bank where he was made to transfer N7million to one of the operatives’ account.
Mr Ibrahim ordered an investigation into the case upon receipt of the petition.
A statement signed by Public Relations Officer, Zone 2 Command, Dolapo Badmos, said investigation revealed that no proper police procedure was followed in Odionye’s arrest and “that the four SARS operatives actually abducted the man from his house and unlawfully detained him in the hotel under the guard of the suspects for personal gain.”
Mrs Badmos gave the identity of the rogue policemen as Sgt Adeoye Adekunle, Sgt Adeniran Adebowale, Sgt Agbi Lucky and Sgt Odighe Hehosa.
She said they were subsequently found guilty during the orderly room trial of professional misconduct, corrupt practices and discreditable conduct.
They were dismissed and consequently charged to court on criminal charges of armed robbery, kidnapping, unlawful detention, stealing, intimidation and threatening violence.
Badmos reiterated Ibrahim’s directive that “the force will not tolerate any act of misconduct that undermines the value of international best practices of policing,” stating further that any police officer or men found guilty will not be spared.
