The Nigeria Police on Wednesday said it dismissed Edith Uduma, a former Police Inspector, for acts of gross misconduct and complicity surrounding the alleged rape of a 17-year-old female suspect by one Sgt. Abraham Uzuobo.
Police said Uduma had conspired with her husband, Ibrahim Mohammed, who was also a Police Inspector, to unlawfully demand the sum of One Million Naira (N1,000,000) from the Sergeant to assist him in concealing the matter.
This was made known in a statement by ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Adejobi stated that “a thorough investigation into the matter conducted by the Edo State Police Command uncovered that the Police Sergeant, identified as Sgt Abraham Uzuobo, had removed the victim from the cell and taken her to an unoccupied office, where he attempted to engage in sexual acts with her.
“During the act, Uduma had walked in and recorded the act. However, instead of immediately making a documented entry on the matter in the Incident Record of the Station which was under her charge, and thereafter reporting the incident to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for disciplinary actions to be initiated against the erring officer, she took advantage of the situation to enrich herself by calling her husband, Ibrahim Mohammed, who was also a Police Inspector, both of whom conspired to unlawfully demand the sum of One Million Naira (N1,000,000) from the Sergeant to assist him in concealing the matter.”
Adejobi explained that the Sergeant offered only N45,000 in cash which they collected at that instance.
The couple, according to the statement, contacted the Sergeant after a few days to request the same sum of N1,000,000 but the Sergeant refused to comply.
“Dissatisfied by his refusal to follow through with the blackmail, they decided to report the erring officer to the DPO and also simultaneously share the video on social media.
“Everyone culpable in this case has been sanctioned appropriately as there is no intention to impede justice. The erring Sergeant has been dismissed and prosecuted and is currently in prison custody as the trial progresses. Inspector Edith Uduma was also dismissed for her role, while her complicit husband has been reduced to the rank of Sergeant.”
The police chief spokesman said the clarification became necessary because Uduma had made numerous unfounded claims regarding her innocence and had sought to taint the reputation and integrity of the adjudicating authority, the Inspector-General of Police in person, and the entire Police Force.
“It is imperative to set the record straight and provide clear context regarding her actions and the decision to dismiss her from service.
“The dismissal of former Police Inspector Edith Uduma was not only justified but necessary, based on thorough investigations that presented irrefutable evidence of her failure to follow standard incident report protocol to immediately document the incident, attempt to conceal an offender for benefit, participation in extortion and manipulating the justice process for personal gain.
“The Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM., stands firmly against any form of misconduct, particularly in cases of such grave nature involving vulnerable victims.
The Force maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward corruption, blackmail, and any behaviour that seeks to pervert the cause of justice. The actions of the dismissed officer were in direct violation of the values and standards upheld by the Nigeria Police Force, and other extant laws of Nigeria,” Adejobi said.
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