By Desire Emmanuel
An Inspector and a Corporal attached to the Delta State Police Command who were found to have collected bribe from a motorist through the use of a Point of Sales (POS) machine at the station have been demoted.
The Inspector, Augustine Jeremiah and the Corporal, Miracle Ehirim, from the ‘C’ Divisional Headquarters, Asaba, were captured in a viral video receiving money from a motorist through the POS terminal within the station on January 13 this year.
They were demoted after an orderly room trial found them guilty. While Inspector Jeremiah’s rank was reduced to Sergeant, that of Corporal Ehirim was reduced Constable.
The two officers were found guilty of disobedience to lawful order, extortion and discreditable conduct, contrary to the provisions of the Police Act, 2020 (LFN).
According to a statement by the state police command on Tuesday, July 7, the development was in line with police’s zero-tolerance policy on extortion and professional misconduct.
It was also in line with the policy which prohibits the use of POS terminals and other electronic payment platforms within police stations and formations.
“No officer is authorised to demand or receive money from members of the public under any guise and any officer found culpable will face appropriate disciplinary action,” the statement added.
