The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, has ordered the arrest and trial of four policemen for alleged corrupt practices and shoddy investigation into the case of one Theodore Ifunanya, who was arrested on suspicion of involvement in armed robbery.

The affected policemen are Inspector Amiete, Sergeant Gbemunu Samuel, Sergeant Afolabi Oluwaseun and Corporal Adigun Omotayo.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Chike Oti, in a statement on Wednesday, said the officers, who recovered the sum of CFA350,000 from Theodore during investigation, had yet to release the money to him after he was exonerated.

He added that the CP, who was briefed about the activities of the police officers attached to the Ijanikin Police Division, ordered their arrest and trial in an orderly room.

Oti said, “The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Edgal Imohimi, has ordered the arrest and trial of four policemen attached to the Ijanikin Division for an alleged corrupt practice and shoddy investigation.

“The officers, Inspector Amiete, Sergeant Gbemunu Samuel, Sergeant Afolabi Oluwaseun and Corporal Adigun Omotayo, had arrested one Ifunanya Theodore on suspicion of involvement in armed robbery on Monday, December 17, 2018, and in the course of investigation, recovered the sum of CFA350,000 from him.

“After the investigation, the said Ifunanya Theodore was exonerated of the allegation. However, when his request for the release of his money was not attended to, he called the Area Commander in charge of Area K, Morogbo, ACP Hope Okafor, who directed that his money be released to him without delay.

“Meanwhile, the CP was briefed that the aforementioned police operatives were not at their professional best while handling the case. Consequently, he directed the head of the command’s Provost Section to arrest, investigate and try the officers involved in the orderly room, and if found guilty, appropriate punishment will be meted to them.”

Oti said Imohimi had directed that the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the Ijanikin Division be issued a query and if his response is not acceptable, his conduct would be reported to the Inspector-General of Police for necessary action.

•Sourced from Punch report