A resident of Afiesere community in Ughelli, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, Mrs Gladys Ubogu Okeoghene, has accused some unnamed police operatives within Delta State Command of allegedly extorting her to the tune of N2.186m.
This was contained in a petition she despatched to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 5, Police Headquarters, Benin, seeking justice and an investigation into the alleged extortions.
The aggrieved woman also despatched copies of the petition dated January 22, 2025, to the International Human Rights Commission and the US Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights, Nigeria Office.
According to Mrs Okeoghene, in the petition which was made available to journalists in Warri on Saturday, her “family’s two cars, a GLK 350 and a C400, were stolen in 2022 after being handed over to a mechanic, Mr Solomon David Orshieda, for repairs.
“Orshieda allegedly sold the cars and fled to Kenya”, the petitioner stated.
Mrs Okeoghene revealed in her petition that she contacted the Nigeria Police Force (Area Command) and Investigating Police Officer, Ebinum Odiri Oghenerukevwe, over her ordeal, adding that in October 2024, she “was directed to pay a total of N2,186,000 for the recovery of the vehicles.”
The purported payment, she explained, was said to comprise “costs for office movement and tracking.”
The petitioner further stated that “despite paying the requested amount, the police refused to release one of the recovered vehicles, the C400, and instead demanded additional payment.”
Continuing, the petitioner deposed that she “was not informed or consulted when the police granted bail to the suspects, including Orshieda.”
Furthermore, she stated in the petition that the IPO handling the case had allegedly been intimidating and threatening her, at a time when her recovered vehicle remained seized by the police.
In the said petition, Mrs Okeoghene is therefore “seeking justice and calling for an investigation into the allegations of police extortion and misconduct.”
Reacting, the Police Public Relations Officer for Delta State, SP Bright Edafe, stated that the command arrested everybody involved and recovered one of the vehicles, only for the main suspect to appear with proof that he bought both vehicles from the woman’s son and the son even sent him the original customs papers.
“It was when she found out that her son sold the vehicles, she ran away with her son from the police station and started writing petitions up and down,” he said.
The PPRO continued, “This disturbing case raises concerns about police corruption and misconduct in Nigeria.
“The Nigeria Police Force has faced numerous allegations of extortion, bribery, and human rights abuses in the past.
“It remains to be seen how the authorities will respond to Mrs Okeoghene’s petition and allegations.”
