Police officer faces demotion over N915,000 rice fraud in Lagos

A female police inspector attached to the Lagos State Command may face dismissal or demotion after being arrested for allegedly defrauding a complainant of N915,000 in a failed rice supply deal.

According to a police source, the officer, who is yet to be identified, was arrested after a complainant (name withheld) reported her at the command headquarters on Wednesday, September 11.

The source stated that the complainant had, in January 2024, given the officer the sum of N915,000 to supply 20 bags of rice. She was, however, said to have gone into hiding after receiving the money.

The source said, “A complainant complained on Wednesday at about 2:34 pm, alleging that one of our officers collected the sum of N915,000 to supply 20 bags of rice. And ever since she received the money, she went into hiding until she was traced to her residence at the Olusosun area of Ojota and brought to the station.

“She was thereafter arrested and interrogated. During the interrogation, she admitted to the offence and had since been detained for appropriate disciplinary action.”

Another source in the command who craved anonymity, as he was not permitted to speak on the matter said that the case had been transferred to the Provost’s office at the command headquarters.

The source added that the action constituted a financial embarrassment to the police.

“It is a financial embarrassment to the police. Such an act negates the Public Service Rules because we are meant to be seen as not being biased. It is against our principles for police officers to engage in business. The case is with the Provost’s office. Internal disciplinary action is being taken against her, and she will be made to refund the money,” the source said.

Stressing the penalty such an act attracts, the source said the officer may face dismissal or be demoted.

The source said, “While it depends on the adjudication officer at the provost office, such action attracts dismissal or demotion.”

Babaseyi Oluseyi, Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, could not be reached for comments as calls made to his telephone lines were not responded to.

The incident has once again raised concerns over cases of police officers being caught in the web of financial dealings, which often dent the image of the Nigeria Police Force.