In a country where several police officers and their counterparts in sister security agencies have been caught on camera collecting bribe from innocent Nigerians, a few others have distinguished themselves, upholding their public service integrity and work ethics. In this report, aside celebrating Superintendent of Police Ibrahim Ezekiel Sini, who turned down N150 million bribe offer to pervert the course of justice, CHINASA OKAFOR writes about other honest police officers and Nigerians who have written their names in gold.
The saying, “A good name is better than silver and gold.” was recently exhibited by another officer of the Nigeria Police Force, who recently rejected the sum of N150m bribe to pervert the course of justice.
When the news broke out that a Nigerian Police officer again, rejected a bribe of N150 million in Abuja, many laughed it off as a ruse. They saw it as part of a subtle effort by the Nigerian Police Force to redeem what has been admitted ly been a dented image.
Many Nigerians are generally very honest and prudent, and this fact has been demonstrated time without number. In these harsh economic times in which a cup of Garri sells for N250 and a kilo of meat goes for N5500, only a few honest persons, particularly security operatives who are complaining about poor welfare package would reject sumptuous bribe from criminals.
With a carton of super pack Indomie noodles now selling for as high as N12,000 as against the initial N4,700 it sold until 2023, I bet you, that only a few persons will suddenly discover some millions mistakenly sent into their bank account and, take the stress to refund it to the original source.
As we are often told, a large per cent of inmates serving various jail terms at the various correctional facilities in the country are there due to the fact that the course of justice that led to the final judgement which determined their fate was perverted.
For many, rejecting bribes, returning forgotten money, as well as returning funds wrongly credited to one’s account is an ‘act of foolishness ‘.
In some instances, some persons who fume and describe these honest Nigerians as “fools’ for returning what they term as ‘awoof’ , often harp on the fact that the nation’s reward system is discouraging.
Only recently, LEADERSHIP Newspaper honoured a Keke rider, Auwalu Salisu, a Kano-based tricycle rider and son of a fresh meat hawker as its Outstanding Young Person Of The Year at its 2023 LEADERSHIP Annual Conference and Award
In fact, Auwalu Salisu, a Kano-based commercial tricycle rider, at the LEADERSHIP Award Conference, received scholarship offers up to PhD level of education to the tune of N250m, courtesy of his rare act of honesty in returning N15 million he found in his tricycle to the owners.
Auwalu, now a celebrity, first received scholarship offer to the Abuja-based Baze University up to PhD level from a fellow awardee and presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi.
Followed by another fellow awardee and Niger State governor, Mohammed Umar Bago, who offered N250m scholarship award to Awwalu to appreciate his act of honesty and to encourage other young Nigerians to emulate his virtue.
Like many lucky others, Mr.Ibrahim Ezekiel Sini, who exhibited strong will and character by resisting the temptation of being used to pervert justice, has been rewarded by the Police authorities with Integrity Awar at the maiden edition of the Nigeria Police awards and commendation.
He was among 16 personnel of the Nigeria Police Force recognised and honoured for their wonderful contributions of upholding the integrity of the Police force and nation building. Their exemplary qualities, actions and decisions in improving the image of the police and the country at large, besides being worthy of commendations, have shown that there is hope for the nation as it contends with criminal elements both from within and outside government agencies.
Speaking at the award ceremony, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Kayode Egbetokun, explained that the award was intended to showcase the meritorious and guiding principles that should shape the daily actions and decisions of police officers. He said, “Recognition will be given to disciplined officers who diligently carry out investigations and prosecutions. Their efforts have brought offenders to justice, delivered closure to victims and reinforced the rule of law, and has transformed justice from a mere concept into a tangible reality for all.
In fact, with this latest feat by superintendent Sini, many are still lost as to if there could really be saints in the police force, a security agency whose face and integrity had been bastardised by a few bad eggs. While disheartening videos of officers extorting motorists and demanding bribes from criminals and some innocent Nigerians are commonplace on social media, this officer’s rejection of a whopping N150 million bride is indeed a commendable feat. This is because, the issue of bribery and corruption has in the past dented the image of the Nigerian Police Force and country, therefore, leaving many perplexed.
SP Sini is currently serving with the Counter Intelligence Unit (CIU) which is domiciled in the Force Intelligence Department (FID) of the Nigeria Police Force. The unit is saddled with the responsibility of gathering intelligence and conducting activities to prevent espionage, sabotage and subversion or counteracting threats posed by hostile intelligence services against the Nigeria Police Force. The unit also conducts discrete investigations on related matters as directed by the office of the Inspector General (IG) of Police through the office of the deputy Inspector (DIG) General of Police, Force Intelligence department.
Sometime last year, following a petition to the IGP, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) AbduYari Lafia, assigned the case to the CIU headed by deputy commissioner of Police (DCP) Edwin Eloho and assisted by assistant commissioner of Police (ACP) Mohammed Lawan. DCP Elohor, gave Sini and his team (including DSP Abu Inwanfero) the task of unravelling the claim of fraud and diversion of funds against the chief executive officer (CEO) of Duport Midstream Company Limited, Dr Akintoye Akindele. According to the petition, Akindele was said to have diverted the sum of $5,636,397.01 and N73,543,763.25 belonging to Summit Oil Limited to his personal use. However, in the course of the investigation, Akindele was alleged to have offered the sum of N150 million to the investigators to compromise their findings.
According to Superintendent Ibrahim Ezekiel Sini, the defendant offered him a bribe to among other things, admit him to bail, write a report in his favour and also release his international passport to enable him to travel abroad. Sini informed his boss, DCP Eloho, who sent a signal through the chain of command up to the IGP and got approval to play along with the defendant to see if he’ll follow through on the inducement.
He said, ‘consequently, an account was given into which the defendant made a part payment of N50 million. Upon the payment of the deposit, the force set up a separate investigation team whose findings led to the filing of a one-count charge of bribery against Akindele before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, in August last year.
The one count criminal charge marked CR/595/2023 has it that between August 5 and 9 2023, in Abuja, while being investigated by SP Ibrahim Ezekiel Sini and his team on a petition submitted to the Inspector General of Police (FIB) by Summit Oil International Limited on allegation of diversion of the sum of $5,636,397.01 and N73,543,763.25, Akindele “offered gratification of N150,000,000.00 and made part payment of N50,000,000.00 to SP Ibrahim Sini, a public servant in circumstance and to allow you to escape abroad and to write a report in your favour.”
Akindele, LEADERSHIP Sunday gathered, however pleaded not guilty to the charge and has since been admitted to bail in the sum of N500 million. The bribery trial is ongoing just as Akindele and his company, Duport Midstream are being tried for $5.6 million fraud at the Federal High Court, Abuja. In the four-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/570/2023, they were said to have committed the act between 2017 and 2021, when they allegedly converted the said sum received from Shell West into personal use.
While we await the outcome of the two cases, it is worthy of note that the police found the conduct of Sini, the CIU and the FID worthy of commendation and are now celebrating them for their resolve to uphold the principles of justice and impartiality. The conduct of Sini and his team members has showcased their professional competence as well as their unwavering commitment to ethical standards, which the police and Nigeria can be proud of.
Earlier, Police spokesman, ACP, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, announced that the award was aimed at recognising and celebrating the bravery, dedication, and professionalism exhibited by officers in the line of their duty. “It represents a continuation of the transformative agenda set forth by the IGP to foster a culture of excellence, integrity, and accountability within the Force”, he said.
Adejobi recalled that the IG had at his inaugural address to officers, articulated a visionary approach to reward and recognition, designed to motivate and inspire personnel to strive for greatness.
“While we celebrate the achievements of our officers, it is imperative to reiterate the Nigeria Police Force’s unwavering commitment to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and integrity. The Awards Night serves as a reminder of the importance of accountability and responsibility within law enforcement, and we remain vigilant in sanctioning any misconduct or violation of the code of conduct.”
Recall also that in February this year, the Taraba State Police Command also honoured four mobile police officers for rejecting an N8.5 million bribe from a suspected bandit while on a stop-and-search operation.
The four mobile police officers as Inspr Difference Tih AP/NO 362424, Inspr Ngamarju Gambo AP/NO 362385, Inspr Usman Haruna AP/NO 246517 and Cpl Zarudeen Mamuda F/NO 517199.
Not too long ago, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, also commended SP Rilwan Kasumu and his team in the Area K, Marogbo of the Lagos State Police Command for rejecting a N4m bribe offered to them while investigating a case of alleged drug peddling and unlawful possession of ammunition against a suspected drug peddler, Esther Newman Obiekezie, f, 42 years, aka Candy, of No 6, Mojirade Street, Ilogbo Lagos, on February 6.
Records also has it that just a year ago, the Police Service Commission (PSC) promoted CSP Daniel Itse Amah, who rejected a $200,000 bribe, to the rank of an assistant commissioner of police (ACP).
The commission also awarded the officer N1 million as part of an encouragement for maintaining the integrity of the police.
Also, in August 2023, the commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Aderemi Adeoye, rewarded a female officer, Charity Oyor
with N250,000 for rejecting a bribe offered by a suspected armoured cable thief in the state.
In 2022 a divisional Police officer in Kano State, Daniel Amah, who rejected a $200,000 bribe in a case of armed robbery, was presented a certificate of commendation by the then Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba.
SP Daniel Amah was rewarded for maintaining outstanding excellent work ethics, uncommon focus and dedication to duty, and exhibiting sound professionalism which led to the arrest and prosecution of one Ali Zaki and some police officers in a case of armed robbery involving the sum of three hundred and twenty million, five hundred thousand naira only, as well as rejecting the sum of $200,000 offered to him as a bribe.
Julius Eze returns N2.5 million mistakenly paid into his account Julius Eze is an exceptionally honest Nigerian. On the 11th of August 2021, Julius received a surprise alert of N2.5 million into his phone. As was reported by Legit.ng, the money came in tranches of N500,000, N1,000,000 and N1,000,000
200-level student Philip Okafor returns a purse containing lots of money Philip Okafor chose to differ from the rest when he decided to trace the original owner of the purse he picked on the road. The purse Okafor picked contained a lot of money, but instead of keeping the money for himself, he returned it.
In a Facebook post made to celebrate his kind act, his school, the University of Benin said: “Meet Mr. Philip Okafor, a 200-level student of Microbiology and recipient of the Dean’s Special Prize for Exemplary Behaviour. MrMr. Philip Okafor found a wallet belonging to another student and containing a substantial amount of money.”
The most interesting thing about superintendent Ibrahim Sini’ and other honest officers bribe-rejection-offer is that their total salaries for 35 years is not up to the amount they individually rejected. Yet, they resisted the urge to become rich overnight by hook or crook. Despite having the chance to keep what could have fetched them more than a hundred million Naira which they could have rationalised, they chose a good name rather than great riches.
Today, their award and commendations are proofs that demonstrating integrity pays. It is a virtue we need to promote in several areas of our national life if we must rebuild our society. Therefore, Ibrahim Sini’s heroic exploits should be a lesson not only to the civil/public servants, but to all Nigerians, irrespective of religion and ethnicity. National interest should come first in whatever we do, and our greed should come last.
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