Alleged Corrupt Practices: DPO Lekki recalled, CP orders probe.

The attention of the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Edgal Imohimi, has been drawn to the Punch Newspaper publication of Friday, August 24, 2018, captioned ” Power-drunk Lagos DPO leads team to mosque, raid adherents, others.”

The reporter mentioned that the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Pen Cinema Police Division, Lagos State, Harrison Nwabuisi, has been conducting raids during which he allegedly arrested innocent residents and extorted money from them.

He further reported that the police operation took place on Wednesday, being the last day of the Sallah holiday, at Alimi Ogunyemi Street, in the Ifako Ijaiye area and mentioned one Sheriff Aranjure as a prime witness to the alleged extortion by the DPO.

Sequel to the allegation, the CP has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, DCP Yetunde Longe, to investigate the officer and other ranks against whom the allegation was made. He equally directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Administration, DCP Elkanah Ayuba, to recall the DPO to the Command Headquarters to allow unbiased investigation into the matter.

The Command is therefore appealing to Mr. Sheriff Anjure, said to be a vital and indeed other witnesses in the matter, to make themselves available to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, SCIID, Panti Yaba, to assist police investigation.

While recognizing the fact that raiding is a major crime fighting strategy of the police, given that it enables proactive intervention into a budding problem, the CP however said, that it must be purposeful, corruption free and Intelligence driven.

He therefore assures members of the public that if the allegation is true, any officer or men found culpable in the matter would be appropriately sanctioned in accordance with the relevant sections of the Police Act.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, held a meeting with FSARS personnel at the POWA Secretariat, Oduduwa Street, GRA, Ikeja in conformity with the recent directive from the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris that FSARS personnel must restrict their role to the handling of violent crimes like armed robbery and kidnapping and that they must dress in police uniform while carrying out their functions and not mufti as was the case.

The lecture was to ensure adherence and compliance with this directive.

Also at the lecture were men and officers of the Anti-Cultism and Anti-Kidnapping units.

The CP warned the men and officers never to operate in commercial vehicles.

The CP has urged members of the public to alert the police leadership anytime they see people in mufti or inside a commercial vehicle operating or claiming to be FSARS operatives.

He said it is no longer acceptable for FSARS personnel to operate in any other type of clothes except the full police uniform.

The CP also wishes to call the attention of residents of Agungi, in the Lekki-Ajah area of Lagos, to be on the lookout for a wine colour bus with registration number EKY 841.
The vehicle is said to be used by some men parading themselves as FSARS officials.

We have sufficient grounds to believe that they are imposters.

Meanwhile, in the last four days, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Yaba, and the Deputy Commissioner of Police in Charge of Operations, based on the CP’s instruction, have inspected the FSARS cells.

Those detained for non-violent crimes, have their cases reassigned to other investigation units at the SCIID.

The CP directed that one other person allegedly involved in kidnapping be charged to court immediately.

CSP Chike Oti,
Police Public Relations Officer,
Lagos State.