The Police Force Headquarters has revealed details of a forensic investigation into an alleged smuggling scandal involving new banknotes worth N74.95 million. The investigation uncovered that some officers attempted to steal N43.16 million of the money, which was being transported on behalf of clients.
Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, clarified that the officers involved conspired to steal the money and assigned one of them to move the cash out of the Federal Capital Territory to hide it until public scrutiny subsided. This response follows social media allegations that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, was shielding a cartel involved in currency smuggling.
Adejobi dismissed the claims as unfounded, stating that the officers’ actions had been thoroughly investigated and appropriately sanctioned. He detailed the incident, which occurred at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on August 26, 2023.
The implicated officers—DSP Peter Ejike (Zone 7 Legal Section), Inspector Ekende Edwin, Inspector Esther Okafor, and Sergeant Talabi Kayode—unlawfully detained an employee of FATFAD Cargo Nigeria Limited, Andrew Ejah, who was transporting N74.95 million on behalf of clients. The officers misrepresented the recovered amount as N31.79 million and demanded a percentage of the funds to suppress the case.
The owners of the money petitioned the Force Headquarters, prompting an investigation by the IGP Monitoring Unit. During the probe, N31.79 million was recovered from the officers. However, forensic analysis revealed they had stolen an additional N43.16 million, using various tactics to cover their tracks, including spreading false information.
The officers have since been suspended for serious misconduct, tampering with exhibits, abuse of office, corrupt practices, and unprofessional conduct. Adejobi emphasized that the situation could have been handled professionally, but greed led the officers to act criminally.
