Police dismiss Inspector for gross misconduct in Edo r@pe saga

The Nigerian Police Force has dismissed Inspector Edith Uduma for gross misconduct in connection with the alleged r@pe of a 17-year-old female suspect by Sergeant Abraham Uzuobo. The incident occurred at a police station in the South Ibie area of Edo State and came to light following the release of a viral video.

In the video, reportedly recorded by Uduma in October, Sergeant Uzuobo is seen hastily putting on his trousers while questioning Uduma’s decision to film him. The victim is visible lying on a chair in the room.

Police spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi confirmed Uduma’s dismissal in a statement issued on Wednesday, November 27, detailing the findings of an investigation conducted by the Edo State Police Command.

“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 s3xual acts with her,” the statement read.

“During the act, Uduma walked in and recorded it. 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.”

He said that everyone guilty in the case has been sanctioned appropriately as there is no intention to impede justice. Adejobi noted that 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. However, it has come to the attention of the Force that following her dismissal, Mrs Edith has made numerous 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,” he added.