‘We Declined ₦8Million Bribe, Afterwards They Fired Us’: Dismissed Cops Expose Police Cover-Up For Car Thief Under IGP Egbetokun Watch As Kwara CP

‘We Declined ₦8Million Bribe, Afterwards They Fired Us’: Dismissed Cops Expose Police Cover-Up For Car Thief Under IGP Egbetokun Watch As Kwara CP...READ ORIGINAL & FULL CONTENT FROM SOURCE | READ ORIGINAL & FULL CONTENT FROM SOURCE...

The police outpost, located in Maida Town on the outskirts of Ilorin, was allegedly constructed by a suspected car theft kingpin, Ajadi Habeeb—a Kwara-based car dealer. The station was reportedly later placed under the control of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ali Abdukadri, who has been accused of shielding Ajadi and facilitating his illicit activities.

The current Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has been linked to a controversial police station approval during his tenure as Commissioner of Police in Kwara State.

The police outpost, located in Maida Town on the outskirts of Ilorin, was allegedly constructed by a suspected car theft kingpin, Ajadi Habeeb—a Kwara-based car dealer. The station was reportedly later placed under the control of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ali Abdukadri, who has been accused of shielding Ajadi and facilitating his illicit activities.

Speaking to SaharaReporters on Thursday, dismissed police officer Glorious Babatunde, along with his colleague Shola Akano, alleged that their refusal to support corrupt practices by senior officers led to their expulsion from the force in 2020.

According to Babatunde, he and his colleague Akano were punished after refusing an alleged N8 million bribe offered by ASP Ali Abdukadri, who was reportedly protecting suspected car theft kingpin Ajadi Habeeb from arrest.

The controversy stems from a robbery case reported in December 2018, when Abdulrasak Omowunmi was attacked at gunpoint in his Ilorin home and his Toyota Camry stolen.

Babatunde and Akano, assigned to the case, traced the stolen vehicle to Nasarawa State in October 2019. Accompanied by the victim, they arrested two suspects—John Opagbile and Charles Oluwatuyi—who were found with the stolen Camry and four other vehicles, all registered with forged documents.

While in custody, Opagbile allegedly confessed that Ajadi Habeeb was the leader of the car theft ring. But as the investigation progressed, Babatunde said they came under intense pressure from senior officers to abandon the case.

“We were shocked to find ASP Ali Abdukadri and Sergeant Tawa Ajibola, who were not part of the case, interrogating the suspects without our knowledge,” he said.

He said after they reported the case to the CP; he ordered the officers to be detained.

Efforts to press forward with the case met with strong resistance.

Babatunde said a powerful retired police officer intervened on behalf of the two detained suspects, visiting then-Commissioner of Police Kayode Egbetokun’s office alongside Ajadi Habeeb’s relatives to plead for their release.

The retired officer, who allegedly oversaw a motor park where Ajadi kept some of his vehicles, arranged a supposed arrest operation as a compromise.

According to Babatunde, the plan quickly turned into what appeared to be a setup.

The retired officer claimed he could lure Ajadi by calling him and requested that ASP Abdulkadri, along with two other policemen, be allowed to accompany him for the arrest. Acting on the arrangement, the officers proceeded to the agreed location.

Babatunde recounted that the plan, as instructed by Abdulkadri, was for him to enter Ajadi’s car upon arrival, switch off the engine, and signal the rest of the team to move in.

Despite their reservations, the team complied, as Abdulkadri was their superior. However, when Ajadi arrived and Abdulkadri got into his vehicle, the unexpected happened—Ajadi suddenly sped off with Abdulkadri still inside, without ever giving the agreed signal.

“When Ajadi appeared, Abdukadri entered his car to set him up for arrest. But instead, Ajadi sped off with him,” Babatunde explained.

“He later claimed Ajadi pushed him out of the moving car. That was the last we saw of him. Soon after, Abdukadri was rewarded with a new post—officer-in-charge of the same police station Ajadi built.”

In March 2020, Babatunde and Akano were detained and put through an internal police trial at the Kwara State Police Command. They were accused of extorting N1.19 million from a man named Fatai near Zenith Bank.

During their 15-day detention, the two officers—Babatunde and Akano—were served court motions filed by the very suspects they had arrested, John Opagbile and Charles Oluwatuyi, who were seeking bail.

Babatunde opposed one of the motions, warning that granting bail would jeopardise ongoing investigations. Despite their objections, the court approved the suspects’ release.

At the time of the officers’ dismissal, Kayode Egbetokun was serving as the Commissioner of Police in Kwara State.

However, Egbetokun reportedly disclaimed responsibility for the dismissal letters, claiming he acted based on information provided to him.

“Egbetokun was the commissioner of police at that time,” Babatunde told SaharaReporters.

“But he denied involvement in our dismissal. He claimed he didn’t see our appeal, even though we have the acknowledged copy of the letter. His office was used to cover up the whole thing.”

Babatunde alleged that shortly after their dismissal, a new police post was built in the same area associated with Ajadi, and ASP Abdukadri was appointed to head it.

“Immediately he became DIG Force CID Abuja, he ordered the case file and issued queries to the officers who handled the case,” Babatunde added. “I have voice notes to back this up.”

The dismissed officers are now calling for an independent investigation into the events that led to their dismissal and the subsequent empowerment of officers linked to the alleged criminal network.

“This is not just about us,” Babatunde said. “This is about accountability and integrity in the Nigeria Police Force. We did our jobs. We were punished for doing what was right.”

The dismissed officers said that since their dismissal, the Nigerian police have deliberately avoided recalling them to return the kits, as required by protocol—an indication, they believe, that the authorities are aware of their innocence.

House of Representatives’ Intervention

Some years ago, during a plenary session in the House of Representatives under the leadership of former Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, the then Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Idris Wase, raised a serious concern regarding the alleged dismissal of two police officers.

Wase told the House that the officers in question were involved in arresting armed robbers in Nasarawa State.

According to him, the officers were allegedly offered a bribe of ₦8 million to release the suspects, but they refused and proceeded with the arrest.

He stated that the suspects’ vehicles were recovered during the operation.

However, Wase expressed outrage that instead of being commended for their bravery and integrity, the officers were dismissed from service.

He further alleged that the arrested criminals were neither paraded before the public nor prosecuted in court.

“These officers were dismissed simply because they refused to take a bribe. This is a serious matter. If we truly want peace and justice in this country, and if we want Nigeria to be a good place to live, then some people must be held accountable,” Wase said.

He called on the House to launch a thorough investigation into the matter to ensure justice is served and to protect law enforcement officers who act with integrity.

Meanwhile, Akano told SaharaReporters that the outcome of the investigation was submitted to the National Assembly but was allegedly covered up by Femi Gbajabiamila because the current Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, was indicted in the report.

According to Akano, lawmakers feared that acting on the findings could jeopardise Egbetokun’s chances of being appointed as the IGP.

“We were invited to Abuja after our video went viral, and the National Assembly called for a thorough investigation into the matter,” Akano said.

“Following the investigation, the police pleaded with us and even gave us money for feeding during our stay in Abuja. The report of that investigation was eventually sent to the National Assembly, but it was swept under the rug by Femi Gbajabiamila because Egbetokun was implicated. They said taking action on the report could hinder his appointment as Inspector-General of Police.”

Efforts to obtain comments from the Nigeria Police Force spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Olumuyiwa Adejobi, were unsuccessful, as he neither answered calls to his mobile phone nor responded to a text message sent to him.

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— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) April 13, 2025