Issues around the course of justice have become a source of conflict within the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), as a senior officer is accusing the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, of stopping an ongoing rape case pending before the court.

In this case, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Force Intelligence Department (FID), Force Headquarters, Abuja, Abduyari S. Lafia, petitioned the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard M. Mills, alleging that the police boss ordered the termination of a case of rape against an American citizen, Miss Malory Henry.

The petition, according to Blueprint.ng’s findings, was received by the American Embassy, 5 September, 2025.

However, the IGP has dismissed the allegations, describing them as entirely baseless and lacking in merit, even as the victim’s counsel wrote the Benue state government to retrieve the file from the NPF.

Also, Blueprint gathered that the Benue State Ministry of Justice and Public Order, had written to that effect and following through the appropriate channel.

…The AIG’s grouse

In the petition dated August 1, 2025 and titled: ‘How IGP Kayode Egbetokun Shielded Suspect In Case Of Rape Against American Citizen,’ Lafia said: “I am constrained to write this petition and draw your attention to this ignoble injustice meted to your citizen, Miss Malory Henry, and the impunity with which it was carried out by IGP Egbetokun who operates above the law.

“I am also duty bound between my conscience and oath of office to protect the sanctity of our laws and victims of crime irrespective of race, religion, tribe or nationality. These responsibilities and the promise I made to Miss Malory Henry that she will get justice weigh heavily on my neck like a pendulum too heavy to bear.

“It is for these reasons that I will do everything that is humanly possible within the confines of the law to expose this abuse by IGP Egbetokun, with the sole aim of getting justice for Miss Malory Henry who has been let down by our criminal justice system.”

Narrating the course of events, the senior officer further said: “Sometime in April 2023, a case of rape was reported to the office of then IGP Usman Baba Alkali, involving an American and an Indian Citizen, where it was alleged that the suspect, one Mr. Kumar Gaurav, an Assistant Manager with Olam Rice Nigeria, resident in Makurdi, Benue state, raped the victim, an American Citizen working in Nigeria, Miss Malory Henry who is a colleague of the Suspect.”

According to him, the case was referred to the then Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB), now Force Intelligence Department (FID), for discreet investigation by the former IGP Alkali, “who directed that I personally handle the investigation due to its international dimension involving foreign nationals.

“The facts of this case is that the victim alleged that her colleague, Mr. Gaurav, lured her to his home in Makurdi, Benue state, on March 30, 2023, for dinner while she was on official assignment from Abuja, where he drugged and brutally raped her, including forceful anal penetration without her consent, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable by Section 284 of the Penal Code Law.”

The senior police officer, in the petition that was copied to India High Commission, British High Commission, French Embassy, Chinese Embassy, German Embassy and Director General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), said both the suspect and the victim were staff of Olam Rice Nigeria.

The alleged rape incident happened in the suspect’s house in Makurdi, Benue state.

“It was further established by medical examination, after the suspect was taken into custody, that the victim was raped by him,” the petitioner further claimed.

On the weight of this evidence, he said, Gaurav was denied bail and further investigated.

…Attempted bribery

However, the AIG added: “Having been faced with plethora of evidence against him, he offered N100 million to myself and the team to ‘assist’ him compromise the case. When his overtures to bribe the team failed, the suspect traced some influential members of my family and sought their intervention to ‘assist’ in resolving the case in his favour which was resisted.”

“Upon conclusion of investigation, a prima facie case of rape was established against Mr. Gaurav and he was subsequently arraigned on May 12, 2023, in Charge No: MHC/42C/2023, between IGP vs Kumar Gaurav, at the High Court of Benue state, before Justice T. A. Kume.

“However, upon the assumption of duty of Kayode Egbetokun as the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID), he began to show unusual interest in the matter in favour of the suspect.

“Despite the undue pressure mounted by him to compound the case, I ensured that the trial of the defendant commenced on June 16, 2023. Unfortunately, while the trial proceeded without hitches, DIG Egbetokun was appointed as IGP on June 19, 2023, thus providing him with the opportunity to obstruct the course of justice.”

At the close of the prosecution’s case, the police chief said, “the defense filed a no-case submission but after due consideration, the judge dismissed the argument and the submission of the defense and therefore ordered the defendant to enter his defense based on the prima facie evidence before it.

“Rather than entering his defense as ruled by the Court, the defense took steps to shield the defendant from justice through a frivolous petition to the IGP on a matter already before the court…

“Consequently, on July 17, 2024, the Prosecutor, ASP Edwin Ochayi, was ordered by the Commissioner of Police Legal, CP Ehiede, acting on the directive of IGP Kayode Egbetokun, to terminate the case before the court.”

He said the prosecutor subsequently informed the court July 26, 2024, that IGP Egbetokun had ordered the withdrawal of the case “under the pretext of conducting further investigation by the Police Legal Department. This action was ostensibly taken to aid the suspect in arresting the case, thus facilitating the injustice meted to the victim by Mr. Gaurav.”

He also claimed that despite drawing Egbetokun’s attention to this obstruction of justice linked to him, the latter feigned ignorance.

…Wireless message

A police wireless message sighted by our correspondent confirmed the appeal to revisit the case and directive to withdraw the case; marked CB: 4001 / X/LEG/ FHQABJ/ VOL9/88 Order and Directive REF IGENPOL LET CZ: 7050/IGP.SEC/ABJVOL. 168/180 dated July 1, it read: ‘Passionate request for the review of case between IGP vs Kumar Gaurav with charge Number: MHC/42C/2023 pending before High Court IGENPOL directs mine to deal read: “You are hereby directed to withdraw charge and handover case file to Supol Gabriel Francis to treat and report within time. Treat as important, please.”

While describing the call for case review as a smokescreen to shield the suspect from prosecution and subsequent punishment by way of conviction, the petitioner maintained that: “In all intent and purposes, an honest review of a case file may be conducted without termination or withdrawal of the matter before the court.

“It requires just a copy of the case file for such a review, while the matter would still be ongoing in court, but in this instant case, the original case file was retrieved and the criminal proceedings before the court were illegally aborted by the action of IGP Egbetokun.”

He said: “Probably frustrated by this action, the trial Judge of the High Court of Benue state, Justice T. A. Kume, discharged and acquitted the Defendant without entering his defense.”

“It is unheard of for the Police to withdraw a matter before a court where a prima facie case has been established against the Defendant standing trial before it under the pretext of a review,” he further submitted, adding that the prosecutor, who, according to him, diligently prosecuted the matter, “was victimized and transferred to Niger state Command.”

Like the prosecutor, Lafia claimed he was victimized and denied his “merited elevation from the rank of AIG to DIG”, as “several negative social media reports against my hard earned reputation, even when they were all proven to be lies, in order to blackmail me into silence.”

He said the prosecutor, himself and the entire team deserved commendation for refusing the bribe sum of N100 million from the suspect, and not victimization as allegedly being meted out to them.

…Victim’s counsel wants case revisited

Also in a letter addressed to the Office of the Attorney General & Commissioner of Justice, Benue state, and signed by Matthew Echo, the victim’s legal team – KENNA PARTNERS – called for a recall of the case for a thorough review.

The letter was dated November 26, 2024 and received by the OAGF, Benue state, November 28, 2024.

“We are counsel to Ms. Mary (“the Complainant”). It is on her behalf we write to respectfully request your intervention in the above-referenced matter.

“We are of the belief, Sir, that given the gravity of the allegations and the emotional trauma our client went through, it is necessary for the matter to be heard on the merit and substantial justice done, as this will reinforce public confidence in the criminal justice system,” the letter read in part.

Providing a background to the matter, the legal team said: “The trial commenced June 16, 2023, and during the trial, evidence was led by the Police prosecutor with the nominal Complainant testifying of her horrifying experience in the hand of the Suspect, with pictorial evidence showing bruises on her private part among other evidence presented before the Court.

“Upon close of the case of the prosecutor, the Defense filed a no-case submission, which after due consideration by learned trial judge, was denied, with the Court directing the Suspect to present his defence.”

Continuing, the counsel said: “Rather than entering the defence as directed by the Court, the Suspect proceeded to petition the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and on July 26, 2024, the Prosecutor informed the Court that the IGP had ordered that the case be withdrawn for further investigation into the allegation as a result of the Suspect’s petition.

“Following the sudden and unjustifiable discontinuance of the case, the cause of justice was suspended and the Complainant has continued to suffer the traumatic experience of rape.”

The letter urged the attorney general to among others, “recall the case file from the Police towards carrying out a thorough review of the case – we, on behalf of the Complainant, request that the case file be retrieved from the Police authority to allow for a comprehensive review of the case, to ensure that substantial justice is pursued appropriately.

“Should your review of the case establish a prima facie and probable grounds for prosecution, that you direct that charges are refiled at the appropriate Court to ensure that the Defendant is made to answer to the crime for which he is accused of, in line with the law,” the letter also read.

Responding to inquiries sent to his GSM line, the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, dismissed the allegations as baseless and lacking in merit, adding that the IGP never at any time authorized the withdrawal of any case.

“The allegations contained in the petition are entirely baseless and without merit.”

“At no time did IGP Egbetokun accept any bribe, in this case or any other. The IGP did not authorize the withdrawal of any case.

“IGP Egbetokun is widely known, especially by those who have worked closely with him, as a man of integrity, transparency, and professionalism.”

While priding the IGP for “far-reaching reforms to sanitize and reposition the department for optimal performance and professionalism,” Hundeyin said: “These steps collectively underscore IGP Egbetokun’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and excellence in service delivery.”

…Suspect’s whereabouts

When this medium sought to know the suspect’s whereabouts, it was gathered that Olam had moved to Lafia, Nasarawa state.

However, one of our correspondents called the company’s public relations officer (PRO), Abubakar Ogashuwa, Wednesday, who told Blueprint that: “Honestly, I don’t know what is going on, and I don’t want to speculate anything. He might be in our Outgrowth Programme (OGP) in Makurdi, Benue State, since the incident took place there.”

…Benue writes Police

In a further acknowledgement of the letter from the victim’s counsel, a top source at the Benue State Ministry of Justice and Public Order, who is privy to the matter, told Blueprint that a letter had already been written to the NPF had already written the Zone 4 Command of the NPF.

The source said: “We (the ministry) had written to them, and following up with the OC Legal Zone 4 of the Police Force.”

Pressed further on whether there was any response, the source insisted: “Like I told you, we are following up with Zone 4, let us leave it at that.” (Blueprint, but headline rejigged)