Police arrest social critic over N4.2m bribery allegation against Ebonyi CP

Social commentator Justice Ozobi has been arrested following accusations that Ebonyi State's Police Commissioner accepted N4.2 million in bribes. The arrest was reported by the Ebonyi State Police spokesperson, Joshua Ukandu, in a statement released on Friday.

Ozobi, residing in Anambra State, brought up the charges in a Facebook post on August 31. He alleged that the commissioner demanded N700,000 from six families to free their sons who had been arrested. These individuals were allegedly detained over a land dispute involving villagers and Sunday Oketa, the traditional ruler of Oroko Onuoha Community in Abakaliki Local Government Area.

Furthermore, Ozobi claimed that officers from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) first released the suspects following the payments but later arrested them and brought them to court. The police spokesperson, however, denied the allegations against the commissioner at the time, stating that Ozobi was arrested in Anambra State and transported to Ebonyi for investigation.

Ukandu also accused Ozobi of using a photo of a former Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police in one of his posts, which the police found to be "unwarranted public ridicule and embarrassment." Ozobi subsequently admitted that using the image was incorrect and removed it from his post, but maintained his original allegation of bribery.

Ukandu emphasized that the police respect citizens' freedom of expression but will not tolerate the spread of false, malicious, or defamatory information aimed at tarnishing the image of the police command and the force. He urged the public to verify information before sharing it and to submit genuine complaints to the appropriate authorities for investigation.