The Imo State Police Command has dismissed Sergeant Ohakim Chibuzo with Force Number 462315 and six other policemen for alleged extortion and other malfeasance.
The six other cops are Sgt Irome Finian (F/No 505455); Sgt George Osueke(F/No 502320); Cpl Nwagoro Isdore (F/No 512320); Cpl Kelechi Onuegbu(F/No 511966), Pc Nwadike Stephen (F/No528156) and Ihemtuge Plastidus (F/No 528156).
A statement signed by the spokesman of the command, CSP Michael Abattam alleged that the dismissed officers were involved in offence of ‘discreditable conduct, corrupt practices and leaving beat’.
Abattam disclosed that the ex-policemen were arrested on November 8, 2022 in a bank in Umuahia, Abia State where they were performing illegal duty outside their jurisdiction and conspiracy to extort money from an innocent victim.
He added that they were tried and found guilty of the charges leveled against them hence summarily dismissed and charged to Magistrate Court, Owerri.
The spokesman stated that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ahmed Mohammed Barde has directed Area Commanders, Heads of Departments, Divisional Police Officers and tactical Team Commanders of the various units in the command to ensure their subordinates are warned against indulging in sharp practices.
The CP also directed the officers in charge of the Inspector General of Police X-Squad Unit and Commissioner of Police Monitoring Unit to commence monitoring of police officers within and outside the metropolis to check unprofessional conduct among officers of the command.
The statement reads; “Sequel to the inundation of the office of the Commissioner of Police with series of reports/complaints by members of the public on Police brutality, harassments, extortion, illegal checking of phones and flagrant disobedience to the Inspector-General of Police directives on extortion and incivility to members of the public, the Imo State Police Command has dismissed and charged to Court the following ex-policemen : F/No. 462315 Sgt. Ohakim Chibuzo, F/No. 505455 Sgt. Irome Finian, F/No. 505592 Sgt. George Osueke, F/No. 511966 Cpl. Kelechi Onuegbu, F/No. 512320 Cpl. Nwagoro Isdore, F/No. 528165 PC Nwadike Stephen and F/No. 528156 PC Ihemtuge Plastidus for the offence of Discreditable Conduct, Corrupt Practices and Leaving Beat.
“It will be recalled, that the ex-policemen were arrested on 08/11/2022 at about 1300hrs, in a bank at Umuahia, Abia State, in the course of performing illegal duty outside their jurisdiction and conspiracy to extort money from an innocent victim. They were defaulted, tried and found guilty of the charges leveled against them, thus were summarily dismissed and charged to Magistrate Court, Owerri with Charge Sheet Number: No. OW/746C/2022”.
