A human rights lawyer has been arrested for allegedly offering police in Delta State N0.7m in order to free a kidnapping suspect, the state Commissioner of Police Ikechukwu Aduba said.
Aduba disclosed it at a press conference in Asaba that the self-acclaimed, Warri-based human rights lawyer Barrister Omo Irabor had been arrested by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for attempting to bribe them so that one Vincent Akpokona, a self-confessed suspect in the kidnap of one Jerry Okolowa, a company worker at Ekete Owian on the 3rd of December, would be released.
“The suspect was arrested on 6th of December at Army barracks Effurun with the Sim card of the victim while trying to collect the demanded ransom for the release of the victim.
“As investigation was on to arrest the fleeing gang members”, the CP went on, “the Barrister well abreast with the facts of the high profile matter allegedly approached SARS team based in Warri and promised to offer the team the sum of N0.7m to secure the release of the notorious suspect whose gang has been terrorizing Warri and environs.
The team played along and on the 13th of December, the lawyer made true to his promise and came to deliver the N0.7m in the company of the suspect’s relations. It was then that he was placed under arrest.
“To achieve his ignoble ambition, he had advised the team cruelly to lie to the CP that the suspect died in custody while the suspect will be released to the family through him”