Rights activist demands prosecution of officers who allegedly extorted suspect of N500k
Human rights activist, Israel Joe has asked the Delta State Police Command to also prosecute its officers who allegedly collected the sum of N500,000 from a woman arrested alongside an eleven year old girl for illicit drugs.
Joe made the call in a telephone chat with Our Correspondent in Warri, saying the suspect and the minor who were arrested by policemen from Ekpan Division have been transferred to Asaba for possibl prosecution.
He alleged that the state police command was shielding its men from a crime rather than prosecuting them alongside the woman.
Citing section 98 of the Criminal Code, Israel Joe said the offence is imprisonment if anyone gives or receives such monies, describing it as official corruption.
He said that Section 99 stipulates three years imprisonment for public officials who receive such moneies, noting that the matter was made public after the human rights community raised alarm over the alleged arrest and subsequent release of the woman and the minor.
He alleged that the Police re-arrested the suspect insisting, they intend to prosecute the woman and the minor even after she had been released.”
He asked, “On what condition was the suspect released in the first instance? The PPRO in a statement said the Command is investigating the allegations by the woman.
Joe alleged that the Ekpan Division of the Police Force was becoming notorious for extortion, stressing the need for the Delta State Police Commissioner, Olufemi Abaniwonda and the Division itself to checkmate its men and tackle issues of alleged extortion.
He said the allegations were damaging the image of the Police Force.
