Delta Police Denies Allegations of Extortion by Warri DPO
The Delta State Police Command has issued a firm denial of allegations involving the extortion of N240,000 by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the ‘B’ Division in Warri. In a statement released on January 14, 2025, the command labeled the claims as “false and misleading,” providing a detailed explanation of the events surrounding the case.
The allegations were made by Comrade Peter Edariese, who claimed that the DPO and his officers arrested one Godstime Edesiri for an unspecified offense and demanded a bribe of N240,000 for his release.
However, the Police presented a different account of the events. On October 28, 2024, Mrs. Helen Ogodogun reported that her Samsung Galaxy A05s phone, worth N165,000, was stolen, and that N240,000 had been fraudulently transferred from her bank account via USSD. The investigation led the authorities to trace the fraudulent transaction to a phone number linked to Mr. Edesiri, who was arrested on December 3, 2024.
Bright Edafe, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), confirmed that Mr. Edesiri initially sought an out-of-court settlement, but later faced formal charges of conspiracy and stealing. He was arraigned in court on January 14, 2025, and remanded in Okere Prison, Warri.
In response to the allegations, Commissioner of Police Olufemi Abaniwonda urged journalists and human rights activists to verify their information with the PPRO before making public statements to avoid misleading the public. The statement concluded with a call for responsible journalism to maintain public trust and confidence in law enforcement.
