Lagos State Police Commissioner, Imohimi Edgal says Two
hundred and thirty-three policemen have been arrested for corruption related
offences in the past one year.
Edgal says of the total arrests made, 16 were dismissed, 26
demoted, one charged to court and 190 served severe punishments with the
offences documented in their service files.
He spoke at the Anti-Corruption Day with the theme:
“Tackling corruption through collective responsibility”. It was organised by
the Centre for Change. Edgal said the command had continued to uphold the
mandate of the Inspector General of Police (IG) Ibrahim Idris, which is to
eradicate corruption and human right infractions within the system.
He said: “In the last one year, 233 policemen have been
arrested and tried for corrupt practices. Sixteen of them have been dismissed,
one policeman charged to court, 26 have been reduced in rank and 190 of them
have gotten major entries in their files.
Others were given punishment relating to minor entries and
fatigue to act as a deterrent to others. We will continue to partner every
other group to fight corruption.”
Edgal, who was recognised by the centre as the
Anti-Corruption Champion, said he felt honoured that people were watching and
taking note of his actions. The founder of the centre, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin,
said Nigeria was bleeding under the heavyweight of corruption.
“It is either we kill corruption or corruption kills us. It
is also certain that all institutions must be strengthened and that there
should be synergy. This is why you will find out that the Police as an
institution remains the lubricant for the survival of our great country. Talk
is very cheap; it is extremely easy for us to continue to talk about
corruption. But to act and also ensure that we fight that cancer, there should
be no game place. This is why this synergy is very important for us today"
she said.
