Prominent pro-democracy advocates, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has urged the Inspector General of Police Dr. Kayode Egbetokun to investigate a longstanding petition written to his good offices by a Nigerian-American citizen Mr. Bonaventure Ezekwenna alleging series of corrupt practices by some top police officers at the headquarters in Abuja. The Rights group said some of the allegations are so serious that if confirmed to be verifiable, then these police officers should be sanctioned to safeguard National security.

HURIWA through the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, tasked the Federal Attorney General and the Honourable minister of justice Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) to also probe these allegations against these police officers in the same petition copied to his office by the Nigerian-American with a view to ascertain whether there are ingredients of crimes of fraud so the individuals are prosecuted and sanctioned in line with the rule of law. The Rights group said the current administration places emphasis on respect for the principles of the rule of law which according to the civil society organisation should compel the multidimensional and comprehensive investigations by those strategic offices of the AGF/Minister of Justice and the IGP. The Rights group asserted that the Police Service Commission must play a central role in staging its own independent probe of these allegations with a view to bringing those indicted to justice.

HURIWA stated that it got the petition from the Nigerian-American citizen and after thoroughly perusing the contents, it then decided to persuade the Chief law enforcement officer of the federation (the IGP) and the Chief law officer of Nigeria (the AGF/Minister of justice) to take holistic looks at the presentation by Mr. Bonaventure Ezekwenna and act accordingly to prosecute the individuals allegedly aiding and abetting fraudsters from both Nigeria and neighbouring countries who usually meet in Anambra State that is if there is merit or verifiable elements in the said petition.

The Rights group affirmed that the petitioner had informed HURIWA in his open letter to these government officials, thus:

“I’m compelled to write this open letter to you with hope your attention will help to overcome the alleged gross corruption I have encountered at FCID Headquarters, Abuja, the highest investigation arm of the Nigeria Police Force nationwide, since August 2022. This is in regard to gross corruption of a police officer at Special Enquiry Bureau, Force Criminal Investigation Department (SEB-FCID) Headquarters Abuja, Nigeria.

Recently (June 20, 2024), I submitted a petition to the Inspector-General of Police Dr. Kayode Egbetokun, which I copied The Chairman of Police Service Commission, Ambassador of United States in Nigeria and Consulate General of United States in Nigeria. In the petition I detailed alleged specific criminalities and misconducts of a very corrupt CSP at SEB-FCID Hqtrs Abuja allegedly hired by a hardcore yahoo+ criminal syndicate based at Nnobi town, Idemili South LGA, Anambra State, Nigeria to thwart my effort to get justice in Nigeria judicial system.

This very alleged corrupt police officer and his team arrested me on what they clearly know was some framed false allegations, with hope to intimidate, frighten, extort and force me to abandon my quest for justice in Nigerian justice system.

This very alleged corrupt police officer and his team unlawfully detained me overnight at Area F Police Command Ikeja Lagos because I refused to oblige their huge appetite and demand for bribe.

The petitioner alleged also that the alleged corrupt police officer (name undisclosed) refused to interview and take the statement of a Benin Republic national who allegedly confessed his membership of hardcore yahoo+ cult crimes syndicate in Nnobi and Amichi towns in Anambra State, simply because the allegedly confessed estranged cult member revealed the criminal activities of the criminal syndicate this very alleged corrupt police officer is bent on protecting.

The petitioner accused the police officer of suppressing the damaging statements the Benin Republic gang-member made at SCID Lagos and FCID Alagbon Lagos in which he allegedly revealed the alleged yahoo+ cult criminal activities of his group at Nnobi town, Amichi town and other surrounding towns in Anambra State.

“The Benin Republic gang member revealed how they allegedly slaughter people at Nnobi town, Amichi town and other towns surrounding Nnobi/Amichi and collect their organs and body parts (yahoo+).

“An alleged very corrupt police officer who has been doing everything within his power to frustrate my quest for justice in Nigerian justice system, including making me and my lawyers travel all the way from our base in Lagos to his office at SEB-FCID Hqtrs Abuja on Police Invitation, but on getting there, he kept us stranded for 2 consecutive days without meeting us.

Mr. Bonaventure Ezekwenna the erstwhile operative of the United States Army, said also that: “An alleged corrupt police officer who consolidated all petitions written to IGP against Nnobi-based yahoo+ cult crimes syndicate and demanded huge bribe money in order to properly investigate all the petitions. For refusing his demands for bribes, he suppressed all the petitions approved by the IGP.

According to the Nigerian-American citizen, it took the intervention of late CP Frank Odita (May his great soul rest in peace) who despite his health issues travelled from Lagos to FCID Headquarters Abuja to meet DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo, for the alleged very corrupt CSP at SEB-FCID Hqtrs Abuja to send a case file to Legal Unit for advice.

“The Nigeria Police Force Headquarters Legal Unit drafted charges to be filed at Chief Magistrate Court Nnobi, Anambra State. And the same police officer at SEB-FCID Headquarters Abuja extorted N200,000 from me before the case file was released to the prosecutor at SCID, Anambra State Police Command. This CSP influenced prosecutor at NPF Headquarters Legal Unit Abuja to join him in allegedly extorting me”, the petitioner alleges.

HURIWA disclosed that the Nigerian-American citizen also alleged that the unnamed senior police officer at the Force headquarters also threatened his life among other allegations which the Rights group said should be thoroughly investigated by the offices of the IGP, the honorable AGF and the Police Service Commission.

HURIWA quoted the petitioner as affirming that: “But I know that Nigeria Police Force as an institution is great and wonderful, but this particular CSP in SEB-FCID Headquarters Abuja and his racket are allegedly corrupt to the bone marrow and rotten beyond redemption and corrigibility.

“I want the law enforcement, security and intelligence agencies, as well as justice systems in both Nigeria and United States to be aware of these alleged rotten police officer of Nigeria Police Force who gloat to slaughter USA’s dual citizen of Nigeria-USA and veteran of the US Army in Nigeria and nothing will happen. As long as these facts are established and this alleged crooked cop and his racket are held accountable, the rest are fine by me”, he concluded.

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