By Isaac Mission
The Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested a social commentator, Justice Ozobi, following allegations that the state Commissioner of Police received N4.2 million in bribes.
Ozobi, who resides in Anambra State, had accused the police commissioner of collecting N700,000 from each of six families whose sons were arrested in connection with a land dispute in Abakaliki Local Government Area.
The allegation was made in a Facebook post published on August 31.
According to Ozobi, the affected families paid a combined N4.2 million to secure the release of their relatives, who were allegedly detained over a dispute involving villagers and Sunday Oketa, the traditional ruler of Oroko Onuoha Community.
He further alleged that officers attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department released the suspects after the payments were made but subsequently rearrested them and took them to court.
However, the police command rejected the bribery claims and subsequently moved to investigate Ozobi.
The Ebonyi Police spokesperson, Joshua Ukandu, said in a statement on Friday that Ozobi was arrested in Anambra State and brought to Ebonyi for questioning.
Ukandu also accused the social critic of using the photograph of a former Ebonyi Commissioner of Police in one of his social media publications. According to him, the image was used in a manner that exposed the retired officer to public ridicule and embarrassment.
The police spokesperson said Ozobi later acknowledged that the use of the former commissioner’s photograph was inappropriate and removed it. However, he reportedly maintained his allegation that money had been collected by the police.
The command said it recognised the constitutional right of citizens to express their views but warned against what it described as the deliberate circulation of false, malicious or defamatory claims capable of damaging the reputation of the police.
Ukandu urged members of the public to verify information before publishing or sharing it, while encouraging anyone with genuine complaints against police officers to report through the appropriate channels for proper investigation.
The investigation into the allegations is ongoing.
