The Nigeria Police Force announced on Wednesday the arrest of a Supernumerary Police Officer who urged Edo State residents not to vote for the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate, Àsue Ighodalo.
In a video seen by our correspondent, the spy policeman accused the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, of embezzlement and undermining democracy.
He stated, “This election on 21st September is not just about APC, PDP, and Labour. It’s about the evil acts committed by Godwin Obaseki and Ighodalo against the people of this state. They have fought and betrayed democracy, abandoned the rule of law, stolen our resources, and now is the time for judgement.
“This is the time for the people to tell them that we are the rightful owners of this state. Obaseki and Ighodalo have financially ruined this state, leading us into debt.
“Furthermore, they’ve used our resources to build their personal estates. Today, Obaseki and Ighodalo have used state resources to establish Globus Bank. I recall that during Adams Oshiomhole’s tenure, Ighodalo was asked to chair a state economic team, but he refused because there wasn’t enough money to pay him.
“That’s how he recommended Godwin Obaseki. You can see they are trying to make governance a family affair between two friends. We, the Edo people, will not allow that. Now is the time to bring Obaseki to justice.”
The officer further alleged that Obaseki had avoided consequences due to his immunity as governor, but warned that he would be held accountable after his tenure.
He added, “Obaseki has committed numerous crimes against the Edo people. He has been spared due to the immunity granted by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Soon, his immunity will expire, and the Edo people will hold him accountable. We know they will lose, and Obaseki knows it too.”
In response to the video, Force spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi condemned the remarks made by the spy policeman in an official statement.
Adejobi clarified that Supernumerary Police Officers are private individuals trained by the Nigeria Police for specific security duties and are not regular police officers.
He explained, “The NPF strongly condemns this act and clarifies that the individual in question is not a regular officer of the Nigeria Police Force but a Supernumerary (Spy) Police Officer employed by a private company.
“Supernumerary Police Officers are private individuals trained by the Nigeria Police for specific security functions, usually within their place of employment. They are not on the NPF payroll and do not swear an oath of allegiance like regular police officers. While they have the right to belong to any political party and freedom of expression, the Police frown upon the use of an official SPY uniform for political activities.”
Adejobi confirmed that the officer had been arrested and was under investigation.
He added, “The individual involved has been arrested for further investigation. We reiterate that his political comments do not reflect the views of the Nigeria Police.
The public is urged to disregard such statements and trust in our continued commitment to professionalism, neutrality, and the rule of law.”
