The Nigeria Police has sanctioned the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Pen Cinema Police Division, Lagos State, Harrison Nwabuisi, over corruption allegations leveled against him by members of the public.
Harrison Nwabusi was recalled to the state Police Command headquarters following media reports of the DPO abducting and demanding ransom from innocent citizens.
The Nigeria Police revealed this through a statement signed by the Spokesman of the command, CSP Chike Oti, Nwabuisi following extensive media coverage of the allegation.
Excerpts from the statement reads;
“The attention of the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Edgal Imohimi, has been drawn to a Newspaper publication on Aug. 24, 2018, captioned ” Power-drunk Lagos DPO leads team to mosque, raid adherents, others.
The reporter mentioned that the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Pen Cinema Police Division, Lagos State, Harrison Nwabuisi, has been conducting raids during which he allegedly arrested innocent residents and extorted money from them.
He further reported that the police operation took place on Wednesday, being the last day of the Sallah holiday, at Alimi Ogunyemi Street, in the Ifako Ijaiye area and mentioned one Sheriff Aranjure as a prime witness to the alleged extortion by the DPO.
Sequel to the allegation, the Commissioner of Police directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yetunde Longe, to investigate the officer and other ranks against whom the allegation was made.
Read: Nigeria Police Abduct Mosque Worshippers, Demand N30,000 Ransom
He equally directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Administration, DCP Elkanah Ayuba, to recall the DPO to the command headquarters to allow for unbiased investigation into the matter.
The command is therefore appealing to Mr Sheriff Anjure, said to be a vital witness and indeed other witnesses in the matter, to make themselves available to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, SCIID, Panti Yaba, to assist police in the investigation.
While recognising the fact that raiding is a major crime fighting strategy of the police, given that it enables proactive intervention into a budding problem, the commissioner of police however, said that it must be purposeful, corruption- free and Intelligence-driven.
He, therefore, assures members of the public that if the allegation is found to be true, any officer or men found culpable in the matter, would be appropriately sanctioned in accordance with the relevant sections of the Police Act.”
Recall that Herald had published a story in which one Mr. Sheriff Anjure accused the police DPO of abduction and extortion of innocent Nigerians especially members of a mosque who had just finished saying the evening prayers.
Mr. Sheriff had alleged that N30,000 had been paid to the DPO by his brother, One Mr. Ibrahim in order to secure his release alongside two others; one of them a 15 year old boy.
Mr. Sheriff had also offered to testify against the DPO should any case be instituted against the erring officer of the Nigeria Police as well as other police personnel involved.