UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT: Review Investigations, Allegations Against Delta State CP, Officers and Officials Of Ministry of Women Affairs. IGP Orders AIG

IGP Usman Baba Alkali

The Inspector-General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman has ordered the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Zone ‘5’ Headquarters Benin, AIG Lawan Tanko Jimeta to review the investigation bordering on Child Trafficking, banditry and terrorism levelled against some Delta Police Officers and Officials of Delta State Ministry of Women Affairs

This is contained in a letter titled “Re: a call for investigation of cases of alleged trafficked children who were re-trafficked by one Joshua Omorere and his cartel through the Police Area Command Warri and Police Division.”, dated 26th March 2022 reference CZ: 7050/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL.143 addressed to the AIG, Zone ‘5’ Headquarters Benin.

The letter reads in parts: “Find attached copy of the letter dated 18th March 2022 as received from Take It Back(TIB), Delta State Chapter on the underlined subject. The Inspector-General of Police directs that you review and furnish report”, the letter stated.

It will be recalled, a Pro-democracy and human rights group, Take It Back(TIB) Movement has petitioned the Inspector- General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman, alleging the Assistant Inspector- General of Police(AIG) in charge of Zone ‘5’ Headquarters, AIG Lawan Tanko Jimeta of unprofessional conduct, compromised investigation in the investigation of the Petition dated 11/11/2021 brothering on massive child trafficking involving Police officers attached to the Delta State Police Command, officials of the Delta State Ministry of Women Affairs, Justice Marshal Umukoro (Retired) and one Joshua Omorere.

It will be further recalled that during the AIG interview for the accused in the said case on 1/3/2022 at Zone ‘5’ Headquarters Benin, certain accused persons including very senior police Officers, a serving Deputy Commissioner of Police and a retired Chief Judge refused to honor the invitation of the AIG to date and the AIG has subsequently requested the complainant to provide logistics including vehicles for the arrest of the culprits and rescue of the affected children, a request viewed by the Take It Back as unprofessional and compromising.

Take It Back had insisted that the Delta State Police Command is the masterminder of the devilish act and as such should be responsible for whatever logistic needed for the arrest of the culprits and rescue of the affected children, querying further that the request from the police itself amounts to corruption.

The petition dated 18/3/2022 raised incontrovertible salient points as follows:

“That in a petition dated 10/3/2022 addressed to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police(AIG), Zone ‘5’ Headquarters Benin, TIB raised the alarm over the absence of some of the accused and the subsequent denial of the AIG’s interview for the accused in an ongoing child trafficking investigation involving Police Officers.”

“The accused persons who were absent include: “DCP. Olajide Kolawole, Deputy Commissioner(DC) in charge of State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Delta State Police Command Asaba, ACP. Abubakar Argungu Area Commander Nigerian Police Force, Warri, Bar. Fidelis O/c Legal, Delta State Police Command Asaba, SP. Orawemen Vincent, O/c Legal Area Command Warri, DSP. Denis O/c Operation Safe Delta Asaba, Inspector Kazeem Operation Safe Delta, Asaba, Inspector Rachael O/c legal Office State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Delta State Police Command Asaba, Mrs. Flora Alanta Commissioner, Delta State Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Social Development Asaba, the immediate past chief judge of Delta State and Justice Marshal Umukoro(Retired).”

“That the absence of the affected named accused will negatively impact the outcome of the ongoing investigation and may prejudice the complainant on the long run.”

“That there are case files in the custody of the affected accused person to wit: Bar. Fidelis O/c Legal, Delta State Police Command Asaba, DSP. Denis O/c Operation Safe Delta Asaba, Inspector Kazeem Operation Safe Delta Asaba, Inspector Rachael O/c legal Office, State Criminal Investigation Department(SCID) Delta State Police Command, Asaba are yet to brought before you for consideration of the ongoing investigation.”

“That in line with the Administration of Criminal justice system and in the interest of justice, the above named accused need to be arrested and brought in to partake in the ongoing investigation and for them to be confronted by the complainant with the facts in issue  to rule out any form of injustice that may occasion the investigation.”

“That it is the duty of the investigating Police Officer(IPO) to effect the arrest of the accused for the purpose of the investigation by providing logistics including operational vehicle for their arrest and prosecution.”

“That it is the duty of the investigating Police Officer(IPO) to commit the affected children who are victims of child trafficking, banditry, terrorism and are suspected to suffer significant harm to Police Emergency Protection in line with Section 44 of the Child’s Rights Act 2003.”

The petition highlighted incidences where over 10000 children where re-trafficked through the Delta State Police Command by grossly violating Section 44 of the Child’s Rights Act 2003, the petition listed over 30 child trafficking centres operating in Delta State and instances which led to the disappearance of 50 family courts from the administration of the Delta State Judiciary and the subsequent forgery of the National Judicial Council’s (NJC’s) report dated 23rd September 2019, referenced NJC/DE.HC/10/II/96, NJC/DE.HC/10/II/94 respectively.

“It is upon these grounds, the office of the Inspector-General of Police is hereby Petitioned to order the Assistant Inspector- General of Police (AIG) and the O/c X-Squad to provide logistics including Operational Police Vehicle to the arrest, investigate  the aforementioned culprits including the listed child trafficking centres and the total implementation of Section 44 of the Child’s Rights Act 2003 requiring the police to take children who are victims of child trafficking into  Emergency Police Protection”, it added.