Two Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs), have been suspended by the Rivers State Command for alleged extortion in the course of duty.
The suspended Assistant Superintendent Doubara Edonyabo and Assistant Superintendent Talent Mungo were alleged to have been involved in an untoward act.
The suspension of the two officers as well as the stoppage of their salaries were ordered by the state Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Olatunji Disu, with the approval of the Inspector General of Police and the Police Service Commission.
The announcement of the suspended officers was contained in a statement by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, yesterday
The suspended officers were implicated alongside one Inspector Michael Odey, who was found guilty and dismissed from the police on 7 February 2024, following a thorough orderly room trial and a comprehensive review conducted by the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 16, that found him guilty.
The statement, read: “The Rivers State Police Command hereby issues an official update regarding a case involving three Police Officers, who have been accused of engaging in acts of extortion.
“As previously communicated during our press briefing on 13 February 2024, Inspector Odey was found guilty and subsequently dismissed from duty, effective from 07/02/2024, following thorough Orderly Room proceedings and a comprehensive review conducted by the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 16.
“Furthermore, during the aforementioned briefing, we provided information regarding the ongoing reviews pertaining to Assistant Superintendent Edonyabo and Assistant Superintendent Mungo, as their respective ranks required approval from the Inspector General of Police and the Police Service Commission.
“Today, we hereby inform the public that the Police Service Commission has officially authorized the suspension from duty of ASP Edonyabo and ASP Mungo, effective from 29/02/2024”.
On the stoppage of salaries of the implicated officers, the CP said: “The salaries of the implicated officers have been stopped. The two officers will face the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC), which is responsible for addressing disciplinary issues involving senior officers. Update will soon be given on other cases involving these officers”.
Disu, reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to upholding the fundamental principles of credible policing, emphasising that the decision of the command to suspend the implicated officers would serve as a deterrent to others contemplating misconduct.
He called on the public to report any unprofessional behaviour or misconduct displayed by police officers, assuring that all reports will be handled with the utmost confidentiality.
