Police uncover officers’ involvement in N74.95m banknote smuggling scandal

The Nigeria Police Force has revealed that a forensic investigation into the smuggling of new banknotes, totaling N74.95 million, uncovered an attempt by some officers to divert N43.16 million.

According to reports from Force Headquarters, the money was being transported on behalf of clients when the incident occurred.

The investigation, driven by forensic intelligence, exposed the involvement of officers who allegedly tried to steal a significant portion of the funds.

Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Muyiwa Adejobi, who made this clarification against the backdrop of social media allegations that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, was shielding a cartel of currency smugglers, noted: “This group of officers conspired and stole part of the money, amounting to N43.16 million, and tasked one of them to move the cash out of the Federal Capital Territory for hiding, pending when the heat blows over.”

He said the allegation of currency smuggling was thoroughly investigated, the Police officers found to have acted illegally by intercepting the cash and detaining an employee of the company which owned the money without authorisation.

Adejobi’s statement reads, “The Nigeria Police Force has noted with concern the recent allegations circulating in the media, suggesting that IGP Egbetokun, is shielding a cartel accused of smuggling suspicious new banknotes from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“The NPF categorically refutes these claims, condemning them as baseless and orchestrated attempts to tarnish the IGP’s reputation and the integrity of the force.

‘The incident in question, which occurred at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on August 26, 2023, has been thoroughly investigated.

“The officers involved – DSP Peter Ejike (a lawyer in charge of Zone 7 Legal Section), Inspector Ekende Edwin, Inspector Esther Okafor, and Sergeant Talabi Kayode, all attached to the Zone 7 Headquarters were found culpable and sanctioned appropriately.

“These officers, led by Inspector Esther Okafor, on the instruction of DSP Peter Ejike, unlawfully arrested Andrew Ejah, an employee of FATFAD Cargo Nigeria Limited, who was conveying the cash sum of N7.95million on behalf of clients.

“Acting without authorization, they detained Mr. Ejah at the Zone 7 Headquarters, Abuja, and deliberately misrepresented the recovered amount as N31.79 million.

‘The officers further demanded a percentage of the funds to suppress the case.

“Upon being contacted by the alleged owners of the money, the officers claimed that the sum they had recovered from the arrested suspect was N31,790,000 and requested a percentage of the money to jeopardise investigation and suppress the case.

“Outraged by their actions, the money owners petitioned the Force Headquarters, Abuja and the matter was directed to the IGP Monitoring Unit for Investigation.

“During the process, the cash sum of N31.79million was recovered from the officers, who claimed that it was the total money recovered from Andrew Ejah during his arrest.

“After intense investigations and a series of trial before duly constituted disciplinary panels, it was discovered that the officers took photographs of the suspect and the sacks of monies at the point of arrest but claimed the phone they used was damaged and subsequently lost, in an attempt to conceal their misconduct.

“However, forensic intelligence showed that this group of officers conspired and stole part of the money, amounting to N43.16million, and tasked one of them to move the cash out of the FCT for hiding pending when the heat blows over.

“They, thereafter, resorted to several tricks and gimmicks in order to cover their tracks. One of which was the spread of this false narrative and misinformation to several online blogs and newspaper platforms.

“These officers have been suspended, being found culpable of serious misconduct, tampering with exhibits, abuse of office, corrupt practice, illegal duty, and acts unbecoming of a police officer.

“The movement of such an amount of money by the alleged cargo company could have been investigated and handled professionally by the police, but the officers were carried away by greed and therefore acted criminally and unprofessionally.”