AWKA, Nigeria—A senior Nigerian police officer has broken her silence over a high-profile fraud investigation, claiming she is the victim of a blackmail campaign rather than a participant in financial misconduct.
Nkeiruka Nwode, the former spokesperson for the police in Anambra State, has defended her role in a complex case involving the alleged disappearance of over 100 million naira (£46,000; $60,000) from the bank account of a man in police custody.
In a detailed statement, Ms Nwode described how she initiated the investigation after a family reported that two brothers had been detained without trial, only for large sums of money to begin vanishing from their bank accounts.
Tracing the Money
The case centers on the Awkuzu Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) facility—a site historically notorious for allegations of human rights abuses. Ms Nwode stated that her internal inquiry revealed that the funds were being withdrawn while the suspect was still in detention.
According to her account, the trail led to a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member and a personnel from the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria’s domestic intelligence agency. She alleged that 46 million naira was traced to a currency trader in Onitsha, who claimed the funds had been converted to US dollars.
“I began efforts to track down the suspects to protect the reputation of the police,” Ms Nwode said. She claimed she eventually tracked a fleeing suspect to the neighboring Benin Republic, leading to an arrest.
‘Blackmail and Pressure’
Despite her claims of leading the breakthrough, Ms Nwode says she has since faced “sponsored media attacks” aimed at forcing her to drop the case. She maintains that her actions were driven by a desire to root out corruption within the ranks.
“I deserve a medal, not blackmail,” she told local reporters. “Officers who pursue justice within the system should be recognised rather than vilified.”
A System Under Scrutiny
The allegations come at a sensitive time for the Nigerian Police Force, which has faced years of public outcry over extortion and a lack of transparency. The 2020 “End SARS” protests, which saw tens of thousands of young Nigerians take to the streets, were sparked by similar reports of extrajudicial killings and the theft of detainees’ property.
While Ms. Nwode presents herself as a whistleblower for accountability, the Nigerian police authorities have not yet released a final report on the internal investigation. The case remains a touchstone for the ongoing debate over whether the institution can effectively police itself.
Add Comment