Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt September 24, 2023

• ‘How top police officers shared victim’s money’
• Allegation false, say police

The Rivers State Police Command is confronted with an allegation that some of its top commanders extorted more than N84 million from a surveillance contractor, Mr. Atubi John Davison.

A human rights activist, Israel Joe, in a petition to the Inspector-General of Police, detailed how the money as well as a gold necklace was confiscated by the police and shared among some top officers of the command.

Joe in the petition, a copy of which was sent to the Police Service Commission, the National Assembly and the Presidency, said on September 14, the police broke into the residence of the victim located at Egbelu Peace Avenue Road 6, House 14, Port Harcourt and arrested the victim and four others, including a female.

“They went ahead to search the whole house and discovered about N100 million mostly in dollars meant for the payment of surveillance men watching after oil facilities.

“The police took the money. They also took away two of the victim’s cars, Chevrolet and Toyota Camry, along with neck chain valued at N4 million and other properties.

“They kept the victim incommunicado and released the others on bail worth millions of naira. Still in police custody, an investigation was carried out which shows the fact that the money was meant for the payment of surveillance workers.”

The petitioner alleged that the police still went ahead to extort N80 million, the gold chain, two plasma television sets, shoes and clothing they took from the victim’s house.

He said: “They issued a threat to us that no one should hear about the issue else they would come for all of us.

“They also told us that such monies come from the government so the victim should be able to cover up with subsequent monies.

“We thereby call on the Inspector General of Police and all well-meaning authorities to bring these policemen to book, get back the monies and properties of the victim as well as compensate the victim and repair the house damaged by the police.”

The petition was entitled “A call for disciplinary action on extortion, refund of over N80million and gold neck chain valued for over N4million, detention, kidnapping, and ransom taken by the IPO, AC CID…”

A blogger, Pararan Mock News, in a viral post, detailed how senior police officers attached to the command divided and shared the victim’s money.

The highest got N30m while others got N20m, N15m, N10m while the least, identified as Princess, pocketed N9m.

But the command in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP. Grace Iringe-Koko, described the allegation as false.

The statement said: ‘The Rivers State Police Command, in response to a widely circulated social media video by one Israel Joe, aims to clarify the situation concerning the arrest of Mr. Davidson John on September 14, 2023, by the Cybercrime Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Rivers State Police Command.

“The initial grounds for Mr. John’s arrest was rooted in allegations of involvement in cybercrime and ritualistic activities. Subsequent to a comprehensive search of his residence at No. 6 Peace Avenue, Ogbelu, Rivers State, Police Operatives discovered substantial sums of money in both domestic and foreign currencies concealed in his premises, notably atop the ceiling.

“Mr. John’s inability to provide a satisfactory account for the origin of this money led to his transfer to the SCID for further investigation. However, it came to light that the suspect had a urinary catheter in his stomach, necessitating a medical assessment.

“Upon consultation with a medical professional, it was determined that his health condition could not endure excessive stress, prompting a decision to release him into the custody of a reliable surety while investigations continued.”

The police said Davinson’s father acted as his surety and requested financial assistance for his son’s medical needs.

The police said: “The Deputy Commissioner of Police granted a partial release of funds on compassionate grounds for the suspect’s healthcare while the remaining amount was meticulously documented and entrusted to the exhibit keeper.

“Additionally, a gold necklace, reportedly obtained from an undisclosed woman, was also registered with the exhibit keeper.

“The Rivers State Police Command emphatically reaffirms that the entirety of the money is securely registered and under the custody of the exhibit keeper, thus refuting any insinuations to the contrary made by the suspect, as it is vital to get proper understanding of the reason behind concealing such huge amount of money in cash in his house, as well as not being able to give full account of the monies.  “The Command urges the public to dismiss the misinformation presented by Israel Joe, recognising it as a distortion of facts. It is important to emphasise that the investigation is ongoing, and the Command intends to provide a comprehensive update to the public regarding its outcome in due course.”