By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Ebonyi State Police Command has denied the alleged demand of the sum of N4.2 million by the State Commissioner of Police from six different families for the release of their sons.

In a statement on Tuesday, signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Joshua Ukandu said the allegation was contained in a social media post by one Mr. Justice Ozobi.

SP Ukandu stated that Mr. Ozobi had alleged that the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Command, ordered the collection of N700,000 each from six different families for the release of their sons, following their arrest allegedly ordered by a traditional ruler in the state.

“Ordinarily, the Command would have ignored the post, which is riddled with typographical errors, incoherent assertions and a glaring lack of factual accuracy,” SP Ukandu said.

He said that the picture used in the post is that of the long-retired former Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Command which he said further demonstrated the author’s apparent lack of basic research and due diligence before publishing such a serious allegation.

He noted that in the interest of clarity and to prevent the public from being misled, the Command wishes to state categorically that the allegation is false, unfounded and without basis.

SP Ukandu maintained that the Command does not handle land disputes adding that any attempt to link the Commissioner of Police or the Command to the alleged collection of money for a land-related matter or the release of persons allegedly arrested in connection with such a dispute is completely baseless.

He stated that the allegation is grave malicious, a calculated attempt to malign, impugn the integrity and reputation of the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Command, and distract the Command from its ongoing efforts under her leadership to protect lives and property, prevent crime, and maintain peace and security across the State.

“The Nigeria Police Force, Ebonyi State Command, remains committed to professionalism, discipline, accountability and transparency, and will not condone any act capable of bringing the Force into disrepute.

“Any allegation of misconduct against a police officer will be given due consideration and investigated on its merits where credible evidence is provided.

“The Command challenges Mr. Justice Ozobi to produce the evidence which he based his allegation, as he claimed in his post, rather than publish unsubstantiated and defamatory allegations apparently aimed at generating traffic and engagement on his social media platform, Mr. Ozobi should have put out the alleged evidence,” the state PPRO said.