Delta police command refutes N2.186m fraud allegation against police

By Stephen Asaba-ase

The Delta State police command has outrightly refuted alleged N2.186m fraud allegations against police officers in the state, citing that the allegation was false and misleading, describing it as a deliberate attempt by Mrs Gladys Obogu to evade justice and attract public sympathy.

The clarification was made by the state police spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe where a copy was sent to newsmen in the state.

The statement reads, “the command is aware of the misleading report in various newspapers and the media accusing the Police of a false and deceptive post credited to one Mrs Gladys Ubogu Okeoghene alleging the Police of Two Million, one hundred and eighty-six thousand Naira (#2,186,0000) extortion. For the avoidance of doubt and for members of the public not to be misled, the command wishes to state as follows;

“On the 22nd of October 2024, a complaint was reported via a petition written by Mrs Gladys Ubogu Okeoghene to the Area Commander Warri of Delta State Police Command in her petition, she alleged that a car dealer came to their house and carried a Mercedes Benz GLK and another Benz C400 which was involved in a minor car accident. She further stated that she and her son directed the dealer to sell the vehicles and used the money to buy another car but after the dealer sold the vehicles, he converted the money to his use and blocked her from reaching him. The area Commander Warri directed a discreet investigation to be carried out which eventually led to the arrest of six male suspects namely Olayemi Abiodun Moses, Nowoke Precious, Tempo Mumandira Billion, Fabian Chinonso Udeh, Ahmed Farouk, and David Solomon. The suspects were arrested in Lagos and Abuja. Upon the arrest of all the six suspects, the investigation was narrowed and one David Solomon who is the dealer was charged to court for the offence of fraudulent conversion of the Mercedes Benz C 400 the vehicle was later recovered from one Olayemi Moses whom he sold to.

” Further investigation revealed that the GLK vehicle was duly sold for Four Million Naira (#4,000,000) and the money was sent to the son of the complainant one Highness Onoruikpe by one Austin who bought the GLK from Solomon and sent the money directly to Highness account with prove of payment from the buyer of the said vehicle and evidence was seen on the petitioner’s son Phone (bank sms alert). Upon this new development, the Mercedes Benz C 400, which was earlier recovered and released to the petitioner, was returned to the station for another round of investigation since the petitioner was not honest in her earlier petition. It was at this point that the petitioner abandoned the vehicle and the case at the area commander in a bid to cover up her son’s mischievous actions. The Police did not at any point collect money from her as alleged.

The Commissioner of Police CP Olufemi Abaniwonda therefore advised members of the press, and social media users to verify facts before publishing”.