Activist petitions IG over alleged corruption in Delta police command
A human rights activist in Delta State, Mr. Victor Ojei, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, over alleged corrupt practices going on in the Delta State Police Command.
Ojei, who is the Executive Director of the Young Nigerian Rights Organisation, a civil society group, told PUNCH Online that the petition became neccessary to protect the rights of the people in the state.
In the petition made available to journalists in Asaba, the activist drew the attention of the IG and the Police Service Commission to alleged cases of massive extortion and corrupt conspiracy by the police in the state.
“I am writing to bring to your urgent attention the disturbing practices within the Delta State Command that undermine the principles of justice and human rights in our community.
“As a concerned citizen, I am compelled to report that the police in Delta State have engaged in systematic conspiracy and corruption that severely affect the rights of Deltans seeking redress for criminal justice matters.
“It has come to my attention, through numerous reports and personal observations, that the Delta State Police Command engages in a practice where justice is essentially bought.
“Complainants who approach the police with legitimate grievances regarding human rights violations are often pressured to ‘mobilise’ the Investigating Police Officers (IPOs) with bribes,” he said.
Ojei further alleged that those who cannot afford to pay bribes are at risk of having their case files neglected or intentionally delayed, thereby denying them justice.
According to him, the ugly practice does not only violate the fundamental human rights of Deltans but also erodes public trust in the police as a law enforcement agency.
He noted that the actions of the Delta police command in this regard are tantamount to a conspiracy against the very citizens they are sworn to serve and protect.
“The expectation of financial inducements for the processing of justice complaints is a grave injustice that perpetuates corruption and disenfranchises those who cannot afford such payments.
“This situation demands immediate and decisive action to restore integrity and trust in the Delta police command and to ensure that justice is accessible to all, regardless of their financial status,” Ojei said.
The activist, who claimed to have evidence of the allegations, called on the police high command to undertake a thorough investigation into the alleged cases of corruption and conspiracy within the Delta police command, pointing out that such an investigation should focus on the ill practice of demanding bribes for processing complaints.
Ojei also demanded that appropriate disciplinary action be taken against any officer found to be involved in such corrupt practices.
He used the medium to call on the police authorities in the country to carry out systemic reforms to prevent the recurrence of such practices.
“Such reforms should include strict enforcement of anti-corruption measures and regular auditing of the state command’s handling of complaints.
“The police should also launch a public campaign to educate Deltans on their rights and the proper procedures for filing complaints, ensuring they know that justice should not be bought,” he added.
The activist attached three documents of the alleged corrupt practices in the petition.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Delta Police Command, SP Bright Edafe, dismissed the allegations against the command.
Edafe said the petitioner failed to establish the specific cases of the alleged corrupt practices against officers of the command.
