Despite two orderly trials exonerating four rank and file officers from corruption claims, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has, without evidence, insisted that junior officers stole N43 million from suspects of a Central Bank of Nigeria’s cartel transporting N75 million new banknotes from Abuja to Lagos.

Days after a Peoples Gazette’s exclusive story exposed Mr Egbetokun’s obstinate dissatisfaction to order a third trial after two trials cleared the officers of any wrongdoing, —a move that angered his colleagues and fuelled claims that he was colluding with the cartel to punish his own men for busting their operations— the police chief has defended himself asserting the report and claims were only a ploy to tarnish his reputation.

A statement by police spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi on Wednesday absolved the IG of any wrongdoing, adding that the four inspectors had been found “culpable and sanctioned appropriately,” without stating whether it was the third trial that deemed them guilty.

The statement noted that the inspectors acted without authorisation to question and arrest the suspects carrying such enormous funds in cash bundles of N500 and N200 redesigned notes. 

“These officers, led by Inspector Esther Okafor on the instruction of DSP Peter Ejike, unlawfully arrested Andrew Ejah, an employee of FATFAD Cargo Nigeria Limited, who was conveying the cash sum of ₦74,950,000 on behalf of clients,” Mr Adejobi said on Wednesday. “Acting without authorisation, they detained Mr Ejah at the Zone 7 Headquarters, Abuja, and deliberately misrepresented the recovered amount as ₦31,790,000.”

After the seized N75 million was reduced to N32 million, Mr Egbetokun alleged that the four inspectors tampered with the evidence and stole it for themselves.

“These officers have been suspended, being found culpable of serious misconduct, tampering with exhibits, abuse of office, corrupt practice, illegal duty, and acts unbecoming of a police officer,” Mr Adejobi stated.

The police chief censured the four officers –

Peter Ejike, Ekende Edwin, Esther Okafor, and Talabi Kayode — for stealing from the suspects instead of handling the matter professionally. 

“The movement of such an amount of money by the alleged cargo company could have been investigated and handled professionally by the police, but the officers were carried away by greed and therefore acted criminally and unprofessionally.”

Mr Adejobi claimed that the officers, who initially took pictures of the confiscated cash bundles, later lied that their mobile devices were damaged and that they had lost the pictures in an attempt to cover up their crime.

“Forensic intelligence showed that this group of officers conspired and stole part of the money, amounting to N43,160,000, and tasked one of them to move the cash out of the FCT for hiding pending when the heat blows over,” the statement indicated.

However, the police spokesperson did not clarify whether the cash transporters led by Andrew Ejah were under investigation to determine the source and purpose of the funds, particularly why it was transported in new banknotes via the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport instead of being wired electronically.

The IG’s perceived favouritism towards the cash transporters over the rank-and-file officers has stoked allegations of bias and collusion with the cartel.

That no decisive action was taken against Mr Ejah and his fellow cash transporters has not assuaged concerns within the police force and fuelled suspicions that Mr Egbetokun might be dealing with his junior colleagues unfairly.