The Nigeria Police Force has suspended four officers for stealing ₦43.16 million out of a total of ₦74.95 million confiscated after an unauthorized arrest at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the force’s spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, revealed that the officers—DSP Peter Ejike, Inspector Ekende Edwin, Inspector Esther Okafor, and Sergeant Talabi Kayode, all of whom were assigned to Zone 7 Headquarters—were found guilty of conspiring to tamper with exhibits, abuse of office, and other acts of misconduct.
According to Adejobi, the police, headed by Inspector Okafor on DSP Ejike’s orders, detained Andrew Ejah, an employee of FATFAD Cargo Nigeria Limited, who was moving cash on behalf of clients in August 2023.
The cops were said to have reported only ₦31.79 million as the recovered amount, concealing the remaining ₦43.16 million.
Following a petition by the money’s owners, the issue was elevated to the IGP Monitoring Unit.
Adejobi stated that investigations indicated that the cops colluded to take a portion of the money and sought to cover their tracks by citing technical faults with evidence and propagating false narratives.
He stated, “When approached by the putative owners of the money, the cops claimed that the amount they had seized from the apprehended suspect was N31,790,000 and wanted a part of the money to jeopardize the investigation and conceal the case. Outraged by their acts, the money owners petitioned the Force Headquarters in Abuja, and the case was referred to the IGP Monitoring Unit for inquiry.
