In a bid to set the records straight and address the viral video involving two dismissed police officers, Sergeant Shola Akano and Corporal Babatunde Glorious, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has shed more light on their dismissal. The officers claimed that they were wrongfully terminated from the force. The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi, issued a statement to clarify the circumstances surrounding their dismissal and affirm the integrity of the disciplinary process.
According to the statement, the officers were attached to the Public Complaint Bureau, Office of the Public Relations Officer, Kwara State Police Command. Their primary responsibility was to handle complaints from the public regarding police unprofessionalism and misconduct.
However, during the investigation of a case involving conspiracy and advance fee fraud in February 2020, the officers engaged in misconduct that led to their dismissal. The Special Investigation Unit of the Force Criminal Investigations Department, Abuja, was assigned to review their case.
The officers had arrested two suspects, Fatai Ridwan Olarewaju and Awogbemi Samuel Olayinka, during the course of their investigation. On February 7, 2020, the officers took one of the suspects, Fatai Ridwan Olarewaju, from the police cell where he was detained to a Zenith Bank branch at Unity Road, Ilorin. They coerced the suspect into withdrawing the sum of N1,190,000.00 from his account, which was then collected by Corporal Glorious.
Following this, the suspect was returned to the cell and later released on administrative bail, while the withdrawn sum, two mobile phones, and other personal effects were not returned to him. Instead of following proper procedure, Sergeant Shola Akano and Corporal Babatunde Glorious continued to demand more money from the suspect to close the case, engaging in further acts of extortion.
These actions were a direct violation of their duties and code of conduct as police officers, prompting Mr. Fatai to report the matter to the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the IGP X-Squad for investigation. During their trial, verifiable evidence, including the conversion of one of the mobile phones, an iPhone 11 Pro, for personal use by Corporal Glorious, was presented.
After a thorough examination of the evidence and testimonies from all parties involved, the officers were found guilty and subsequently dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force. It is noteworthy that the officers had also lodged a complaint of wrongful dismissal before the #EndSARS panel in Ilorin. However, their dismissal was upheld after a careful review of the evidence and testimonies.
The dismissal and prosecution of Sergeant Shola Akano and Corporal Babatunde Glorious have been endorsed by several review panels. The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to upholding discipline, accountability, and professionalism within its ranks. It strongly condemns any form of misconduct and assures the public that necessary actions will always be taken to maintain the trust placed in the Police.
The dismissal of these officers emphasizes the force’s dedication to eliminating bad elements and upholding justice and fairness. The NPF reiterates its commitment to weeding out misconduct and ensuring that the values of justice and fairness prevail within its ranks.
Comments are closed.