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The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered an investigation into the allegations of abuse of office by some men of the Imo State Police Command.
This followed a complaint by a car dealer in Edo State, Anthony Osayande, who accused a team of policemen led by John Ebute of forcefully invading his car stand, carting away five exotic cars and arresting six of his staff members.
The alleged incident occurred on October 17, 2024, while Osayande was on a business trip.
He recounted that he received a distress call from one of his salesmen around 4 pm, informing him of the policemen’s presence on his business premises.
“When I spoke to them, they introduced themselves as officers from the State CID, Benin City, and said they needed my attention,” Osayande said.
He claimed to have pleaded with the officers to wait for his return.
However, during the call, he said he overheard a background command to arrest his staff.
Rushing back to his car stand, Osayande said he was shocked to discover that all six of his salesmen had been arrested and exotic cars carted away.
“Five luxury vehicles, including a white Lexus RX 2013 model, a black Lexus RX 2010 model, a pencil-coloured Lexus RX 2015 model, and two white GLK 2013 Mercedes Benz SUVs, were taken away by the officers. The cars are worth N132m,” he alleged.
Osayande said he went to Edo State CID, Benin but was told the policemen were from Imo State.
He said, “I rushed to the Edo State CID, Benin City, where the Policemen claimed they came from, to know what the problem was, only to be told that the policemen were actually from Imo State Police Command and not Edo State.
Osayande stated that his lawyer petitioned the Inspector General of Police over the matter.
In a letter marked CZ:7050/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL.171/143, the Principal Staff Officer II to the Inspector-General of Police, Asuquo Effiong, directed the DCP of the IGP Monitoring Unit at Force Headquarters, Abuja, to investigate the allegations against the policemen.
Also, a wireless message sighted by our correspondent and addressed to the Imo State Commissioner of Police, the Monitoring Unit accused the policemen of failing to appear for interrogation.
The unit noted that the IG was displeased with their absence and had directed the O/C Provost to escort some officers from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, along with the original case file and five vehicles, to respond to the allegations against them on November 15.
It partly read, “Be informed that further investigation into the matter has been stalled as the affected officers of yours have yet to report despite all the above-quoted signals. The Inspector General of Police is miffed at it.
“He further directs O/C provost of yours to be detailed to escort CSP Oladimeji Odeyeyiwa, Commander Anti-Kidnapping, ASP John Ebute, ASP Odeh Ejeh, W/SGT Alice and eight others attached to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of yours along with original case file and five exhibit vehicles on Friday 15/11/2024 to respond to the allegations against them.”
The Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, could not be reached for comment and has yet to respond to the message sent to him as of the time of filing this report.
One of the police officers invited in connection with the matter, identified simply as Sergeant Alice was contacted to explain why they had not honoured the invitation or returned the vehicles.
In response, she said, “I am not aware.”
When asked if she was a member of the team, she again stated, “I am not aware.”
The spokesperson for Imo State Police Command, Henry Okoye, said the vehicles would be returned if they were not stolen.
He said, “Your complaint is well noted and will be investigated. One thing I can assure you is that if the alleged vehicles are not stolen, they will certainly be returned to the owner.
“The NPF is a regimental and disciplined organisation. If there is a directive, it will be followed to the letter.”
