Nigerian Police Service Commission Petitioned To Probe Enugu CP Uzuegbu Over Alleged N62 Million Extortion From Businessman Accused of Being an IPOB Member

The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has formally petitioned the Police Service Commission (PSC), requesting an independent investigation into allegations that the Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Kanayo Uzuegbu, and his command extorted N62 million from a businessman, Mr. Olu Agwu.

Reports indicate that Agwu was allegedly coerced into paying the money into multiple accounts linked to senior police officers. This scheme, it is claimed, follows a disturbing pattern where victims are falsely labeled as members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to justify extorting them.

In response to the allegations, the Enugu Police Command issued a statement denying any wrongdoing.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, described the accusations as baseless. He stated, “There is no evidence that the suspect paid N2 million to any Investigating Police Officer (IPO) in the Anti-Kidnapping office, as the alleged officer, Emmanuel Ahamefuna, does not exist within that department.”

However, despite the police command’s denial, new revelations suggest that Commissioner Uzuegbu was directly involved in the extortion.

Receipts obtained indicate that N2 million was indeed transferred to an account linked to a police officer using the alias Emmanuel Ahamefuna.

Further investigations have identified the officer’s real name as Onyeisi, a native of Nsukka in Enugu State.

Security sources disclosed that the commander of the anti-kidnapping unit admitted before the Commissioner of Police that the IPO operates under the fake name Emmanuel Ahamefuna to conceal his activities.

Reacting to these developments, RULAAC, in an open letter dated February 15, 2025, and signed by its Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, urged the PSC to take over the investigation, arguing that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) cannot objectively probe itself.

Nwanguma stated:

“We acknowledge that the NPF has dismissed the allegations in a rebuttal. However, we firmly believe the police cannot act as both judge and jury in this matter.

“We, therefore, call for the PSC’s intervention, especially since the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and other senior officers have been implicated in the case.

“This alarming trend of framing innocent individuals for financial extortion must be tackled immediately.

“RULAAC demands a thorough, independent, and impartial probe into the roles played by the officers, particularly those in the anti-kidnapping squad and SWAT teams.

“It is essential to establish whether there was internal collusion among police ranks and to ensure that those found guilty face appropriate consequences.

“Additionally, Mr. Agwu must be given a fair hearing in a non-intimidating environment. The unlawful seizure of his vehicle by the police should be rectified, and he must be protected from further harassment or retaliation.

“When abuses like this occur, public confidence in law enforcement diminishes.

“RULAAC urges the PSC to ensure a transparent investigation that will help restore accountability and eliminate such misconduct within the Nigeria Police Force.”

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