The Nigeria Police has affirmed the decision regarding the dismissal of officers within the Kwara command.
CSP Muyiwa Adejobi, the police spokesperson, announced that a review panel had recommended the prosecution of the officers for charges including conspiracy, theft, and the dissemination of false and malicious information against the Nigerian Police Force (NPF).
According to him, ‘The Nigeria Police Force wishes to address a viral video featuring two dismissed police officers, Sergeant Shola Akano and Corporal Babatunde Glorious, from the Kwara State Police Command and a follow-up publication in a national Newspaper on June 2, 2023, in order to set the records straight and demystify the trending allegations for what it really is.
“In the said video and publication, the erstwhile officers alleged that their dismissal from the Nigeria Police was wrongful and a result of their refusal to receive a bribe to compromise a matter they were investigating.”
The police has expressed its intention to provide clarification regarding the reasons behind the dismissal of the officers and to reaffirm the integrity of the disciplinary process, which underwent re-assessment.
Based on the findings of the Special Investigation Unit from the Force Criminal Investigations Department in Abuja, who were assigned to review the case, Sgt. Shola Akano and Corporal Babatunde Glorious were assigned to the Public Complaint Bureau in the Office of the Public Relations Officer of the Kwara State Police Command.
Their main responsibility was to address complaints lodged by the public regarding instances of unprofessional behavior and misconduct by the police.
“Unfortunately, during the course of investigating a case of conspiracy and advance fee fraud in February, 2020, they engaged in misconduct that warranted their dismissal from the Nigeria Police Force,” Adejobi said.
During the course of their investigation, the two officers, Sgt. Shola Akano and Corporal Babatunde Glorious, apprehended two individuals named Fatai Ridwan Olarewaju and Awogbemi Samuel Olayinka. Awogbemi Samuel Olayinka is identified as a student at the Federal Polytechnic Offa in Kwara State.
The police spokesperson clarified that on February 7, 2020, the officers escorted Fatai Ridwan Olarewaju from the police cell where he was being held to a branch of Zenith Bank located at Unity Road in Ilorin.
They allegedly coerced the suspect into withdrawing an amount totaling One Million, One Hundred and Ninety Thousand Naira (N1,190,000.00) from his account, which was collected by Corporal Glorious.
Afterward, the suspect was returned to the cell but was released on administrative bail on the same day. However, the withdrawn sum of money, along with two mobile phones and other personal belongings, were not returned to him.
“Rather than following proper procedure, Sgt. Shola Akano and Corporal Babatunde Glorious continued to demand more money from the suspect to close the case, thus engaging in further acts of extortion,” Adejobi said.
“These actions were in direct violation of their duties and code of conduct as police officers, and it prompted Mr. Fatai to report the matter to the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the IGP X-Squad for investigation.
“Subsequently, verifiable evidence, including the conversion of one of the mobile phones, an iPhone 11 Pro, for personal use by Corporal Glorious, was presented during their trial.
“Based on a thorough examination of the evidence and the testimonies of all parties involved, the duo were found guilty and dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force.
“It is essential to note that the same complaint of wrongful dismissal was made by the officers before the #EndSARS panel in Ilorin, and their dismissal was upheld after a careful review of the evidence and testimonies from all concerned parties.
“Series of reviews and recommendations from panels uphold the dismissal and prosecution of the duo, and they will be so prosecuted accordingly.”
Adejobi said the Nigeria Police Force remains committed to ensuring discipline, accountability, and professionalism within its ranks, and condemn any form of misconduct while assuring the public that necessary actions will always be taken to maintain the trust reposed in the Police.
“The dismissal of Sgt. Shola Akano and Corporal Babatunde Glorious clearly underscore our commitment to weeding out bad elements from the Force and upholding the values of justice and fairness,” Adejobi said.
