Three police officers have been suspended for allegedly stealing over N43 million from a cargo worker at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The officers involved are Inspector Ekende Edwin, Inspector Esther Okafor, and Sergeant Talabi Kayode, all attached to the Zone 7 Headquarters.
The incident occurred in August 2023 when the officers unlawfully detained Andrew Ejah, an employee of FATFAD Cargo Nigeria Limited, who was transporting a substantial cash sum of N74,950,000 on behalf of clients.
According to the Nigerian Police Force spokesperson, ACP Muyiwa Ogunjobi, the officers falsely reported recovering only N31,790,000 from Ejah and demanded a percentage of the money to obstruct the investigation.
Upon being contacted by the alleged owners of the money, the officers maintained that the amount recovered was N31,790,000.
However, forensic intelligence later revealed that the officers conspired to steal N43,160,000 of the total amount. This misconduct included tampering with evidence and abuse of office, as they attempted to cover their tracks by spreading misinformation.
The money owners, outraged by the officers' actions, petitioned the Force Headquarters in Abuja, leading to an investigation by the IGP Monitoring Unit.
The inquiry confirmed the officers' culpability, resulting in their suspension. The Nigerian Police Force has assured the public that legal and administrative procedures will be followed to prosecute the officers involved.
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