THE Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has justified the dismissal of a former police officer in Edo State, Inspector Edith Uduma, asking Nigerians to ignore her claims of being innocent of the allegation leveled against her.
Uduma had threatened to kill herself and her children following her dismissal from the Police Force after she exposed an alleged rape incident involving a colleague.
She accused the Edo State Police Command of unjustly dismissing her, saying she was innocent of the bribery claim.
Uduma’s dismissal came after a viral video that she captured in October showed one Sergeant Abraham Uzuobo, another officer, in a compromising position with a 17-year-old girl at the police station in the South Ibie area of Edo State.
The officer was seen hurriedly wearing his trousers and questioning why Uduma was making a video recording. The girl was seen lying on a chair in the room in the course of this.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Nigeria Police Force reaffirmed its justification for the dismissal of Uduma, saying she was dismissed for her act of gross misconduct and complicity surrounding the alleged rape of the female suspect by one Abraham Uzuobo.
“It would be recalled that in a video that went viral on social media, where a Police Sergeant was alleged to have raped a female suspect in the station on October 7th 2024, former Police Inspector Edith Uduma was the Charge Room Officer (CRO) on duty. The video emerged online one week following the occurrence. A thorough investigation into the matter conducted by the Edo State Police Command uncovered that the Police Sergeant, identified as Sgt Abraham Uzuobo, had removed the victim from the cell and taken her to an unoccupied office, where he attempted to engage in sexual acts with her.
“During the act, Uduma walked in and recorded the act. However, instead of immediately making a documented entry on the matter in the Incident Record of the Station which was under her charge, and thereafter reporting the incident to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for disciplinary actions to be initiated against the erring officer, she took advantage of the situation to enrich herself by calling her husband, Ibrahim Mohammed, who was also a Police Inspector, both of whom conspired to unlawfully demand the sum of One Million Naira (N1,000,000) from the Sergeant to assist him in concealing the matter.
“However, the Sergeant offered only N45, 000 in cash which they collected at that instance and after a few days, contacted the Sergeant to request the same sum of N1, 000,000, but the Sergeant refused to comply. Dissatisfied by his refusal to follow through with the blackmail, they decided to report the erring officer to the DPO and also simultaneously share the video on social media.
“Everyone culpable in this case has been sanctioned appropriately as there is no intention to impede justice. The erring Sergeant has been dismissed and prosecuted and is currently in prison custody as the trial progresses. Inspector Edith Uduma was also dismissed for her role, while her complicit husband has been reduced to the rank of Sergeant,” he said.
Adejobi stated that Uduma has been making unfounded claims regarding her innocence and has sought to taint the reputation and integrity of the adjudicating authority, the Inspector General of Police in person, and the entire Police Force.
“It is imperative to set the record straight and provide clear context regarding her actions and the decision to dismiss her from service. The dismissal of former Police Inspector Edith Uduma was not only justified but necessary, based on thorough investigations that presented irrefutable evidence of her failure to follow standard incident report protocol to immediately document the incident, attempt to conceal an offender for benefit, participation in extortion and manipulating the justice process for personal gain.
“The Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, stands firmly against any form of misconduct, particularly in cases of such grave nature involving vulnerable victims. The Force maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward corruption, blackmail, and any behavior that seeks to pervert the course of justice. The actions of the dismissed officer were in direct violation of the values and standards upheld by the Nigeria Police Force, and other extant laws of Nigeria.
“The Nigeria Police Force is committed to transparency and accountability. The Force remains resolute in its mission to uphold the law and protect the rights of all individuals. We urge members of the public to disregard the sponsored publications against the stance of the Force, and remain vigilant and support legitimate initiatives aimed at achieving justice, rather than being led astray by baseless claims from those seeking to deflect responsibility for their actions,” the FPRO said.
Notwithstanding, Uduma had claimed she never demanded or obtained any bribe from her dismissed colleague.
