@csrf

13.12.2021 news Force Headquarters Detains ‘Fisayo Soyombo Over Story Exposing High-Level Police Corruption

Published 13th Dec, 2021

By Sade Owoyemi

‘Fisayo Soyombo, Founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), is currently being detained at the Force headquarters, Abuja, by the police.

Soyombo was on a long trip on November 23 when he received an SMS that read: “Good Afternoon sir, this office is conducting an investigation in which your name and phone number featured, in view of this, you are to interview the Head, IGP Monitoring Unit on the 29th November, 2021 by 1000hrs at 1st Floor, Force Hqtrs, Abuja. Thanks.

Knowing he committed no offence, he honoured the police invitation on Monday, days after returning from the trip, only to discover it was in connection to a story exposing the award of transit police camp projects that do not exist to the tune of the contract sums.

READ ALSO: EXCLUSIVE: Egbunike, Head of Abba Kyari Probe Panel, Joined Others to Approve N1bn for Fake Police Camp Projects

Back in August, FIJ had reported how, in his former role as Commissioner of Police in charge of Budget and Finance at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Joseph Egbunike, head of the police internal panel probing Abba Kyari’s indictment in a recent FBI report on fraud conspiracy, joined other police chiefs to approve more than N1billion for sham police transit camps project in Benue, Bauchi, Plateau, Katsina and Kano states. However, FIJ’s visit to the project locations revealed that nothing or little had been done — three years later.

On a visit to the over N245million transit camp in Riyom, Plateau State, for instance, FIJ found two uncompleted bungalows and a few mobile buildings on an expanse of land, with our real estate expert who examined the project reporting: “Look at that building in red roof, which happens to be a police station in the camp, with N9million or N10million, you can raise that building up to that level.”

FIJ understands that a group of lawyers petitioned Usman Alkali, the Inspector General of Police, over the story, asking for the “prosecution” of those behind it for defamation under the Penal Code.

The lawyers are led by one Stefan Onome Okorodudu and they claim to operate under a joint mandate as “Concerned Lawyers in defence of the Nigeria Police and its officers from the peddling and publication of falsehood”.

Meanwhile, the police have yet to offer any explanations on the use to which the transit camp funds were put, and why the structures in the five states do not represent anything close to the huge sums of money awarded for them.

Signed: Akunna Chukwu, FIJ

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


Published 13th Dec, 2021

By Sade Owoyemi

Advertisement

Our Stories

Vehicle Damaged from Explosion. Source: Channels Television

Second Strike in 3 Days, Bandits’ Explosives Cause Deaths on Zamfara Road

Parents Paid N8m Ransom for Kidnapped Kaduna Children. They Reunited in Ribadu’s Office

FLASHBACK: Afe Babalola Once Criticised DSS for Disregarding Due Process in Judges’ Arrests

FAAN MD Admits Airport Security Agents Give Returns of Corporate Begging to Supervisors

Taiwo Oyedele

EXPLAINED: Proposed Tax Bills, What They Would Mean for Nigerians

Dele Farotimi Hurriedly Prosecuted, Sent to Prison in Ekiti

Customs Names Officers Who Tortured Suspected Smuggling Whistleblowers but Army Conceals Soldiers’ Identities

EFCC Silent but Court Papers Show 753 Duplexes Belonged to Emefiele

FLASHBACK: Just 24 Hours Ago, Dele Farotimi Said They Wanted To Silence Him

JUST IN: Police Arrest Dele Farotimi

Advertisement