Israel Joe to Delta Police Command: Prosecute your men for extorting #500,000 from woman, 11-year old girl arrested with drugs
A human rights activist, Comrade Israel Joe today said the Delta State Police Command should also prosecute its men who allegedly collected the sum of Five hundred thousand(#500,000) Naira from a woman they arrested alongside with an eleven(11) year old girl with illicit drugs.
Comrade Joe made the call in a telephone chat with Our Correspondent in Warri.
He noted the suspect and the minor who were arrested by policemen from Ekpan Division have been transferred to Asaba possibly for prosecution.
Comrade Joe who said he is not against, insisted that the Police is “shielding” its men instead of prosecuting them alongside the woman.
Comrade Joe who cited Section 98 of the Criminal Code said, the offence is imprisonment if anyone gives or receives such monies stressing that,”it’s official corruption.”
He pointed that Section 99 stipulates three(3)year imprisonment for public officials who receive such money.
He noted that the matter was made public after the human right community raised alarm over the alleged arrest and subsequent release of the woman and the minor.
Comrade Joe said the Police went and rearrested the woman saying,”they want to prosecute the woman and the minor after her release.”
Comrade Joe is asking, “On what condition was she (suspect) released in the first instance?”
He said,”The PPRO in a statement said the Command is investigating the allegations by the woman. On the issues about the Policemen, he was mute. Instead, he focused on the minor and the mother.”
Comrade Joe also said the Ekpan Division of the Police Force is becoming notorious for extortion just as he stressed the need for the Delta State Police
Command led by CP Olufemi Abaniwonda and the Division itself to checkmate its men as well as tackle issues of alleged extortion, pointing out that it’s damaging the image of the Police Force..
