Fresh details have emerged on the suspension of the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Abduyari Lafia, the AIG in charge of the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID), whose suspension was announced on January 17, with effect from January 9, 2025.
The Police Service Commission (PSC), which approved Abduyari’s suspension in a letter dated January 9, 2025, had communicated the police authorities via a letter referenced AP:41804/FS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.IV/3 asked him to proceed on suspension with effect from January 9.
Investigations by the Sunday Tribune, however, confirmed that the development was connected to a long and unwinding web of investigations, petitions and court cases involving the AIG, FCID and some officers as well as a Lagos-based layer and a firm that built a Mammy Market for the Nigerian Army in Ikeja, Lagos.
It was gathered that a case of forgery and theft of the sum of N36 billion was originally referred to AIG Abduyari and his team at the FCID. Upon intervention, his team was able to recover the sum of N1billion with a promise by the culprits to refund N18 billion within a short time.
Investigations, however, revealed that a twist crept into the case when a lawyer, Mr Victor Ukut, in petition dated April 30, 2024 sent to the Inspector General of Police and Minister of Police Affairs, accused AIG Abduyari of abuse of office and other such offences
The three-leg petition entitled: “Petition of robbery Against AIG Abduyari Shuaya’u Lafia and other police officers at Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) and stealing the sum of six hundred and ninety-two million, one hundred and twenty-two thousand Naira from Woobs Resources Limited’s bank accounts with Fidelity Bank PLC ; RE: Complaint Against AIG Abduyari Shuyau Lafia, ACP Mohammed Lawan, abuse of office and Police Power by officers and officials of Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) and request for the Police Service Commission to investigate and intervene; Re: Petition of forgery of official records/documents of the Nigerian Army and Woobs Resources Limited (Concessionaire to the Nigerian Army) to obtain architectural practicing licence looting and obtaining money by false pretences by Mr James Uchechukwu Onyemenam.”
It was learnt that the petitions emerged after AIG Abduyari and his team were directed to invite the parties in the matter for an interview by the highest police authorities. A directive dated May 20, 2024 indicated that the AIG was being reminded to transfer the case file and hand over all exhibits in the case involving Woobs Resources Limited without further delay.
A Certified True Copy of the Police Investigation report on the matter dated December 16, 2024 sighted by the Sunday Tribune, however, exonerated Abduyari and the other officers of crime, while recommending some persons connected to the company for trial.
The report entitled: “Re: Request for Certified True Copy of Police Investigation Report Pursuant to Section 1(1), (2) an (3) of the Freedom of information Act, 2011… Re: Case of criminal Conspiracy, Robbery, forgery and abuse of office,” dated December 16, 2024 and signed by CP Emmanuel A. Aina, psc+, Commissioner of Police, Special Enquiry Bureau (SEB) Force Criminal Investigation Department, Area 10, Garki Abuja, states in paragraph XXXVIII thus: “That there is no evidence linking AIG Abduyari Shuayau Lafia and the Investigating Police Officers with Robbery, Forgery or abuse of office as alleged by the petitioner.”
In paragraph XXXIX, the report further stated: “That there is no evidence showing transfer into the account of James Onyemenam or AIG Abduyari Shuayau Lafia as alleged.
The report in paragraph XXXVIII states: “That there is no evidence linking AIG Abduyari Shuayau Lafia and the Investigating Police Officers with robbery, forgery or abuse of office as alleged by the petitioner.”
In paragraph XXXIX, the report further stated: “That there is no evidence showing transfer into the account of James Onyemenam or AIG Abduyari Shuayau Lafia as alleged.”
The police report also indicated that the allegation that the Managing Director of Fidelity Bank PLC, Dr. Nneka C Onyeali-Ikpe, bailed herself from the FCID with the sum of N5 billion was a misrepresentation, while it clarified that the said bail was a bond on the said amount, which she filled on personal recognition.
The report claimed that rather than indict the AIG Abduyari and his team, “a Prima Facie case of giving false information” has been established against the petitioner.
Despite the detailed report in the custody of the police which exonerated the AIG and his team, the PSC suspended AIG Abduyari on January 9, 2025.
Investigations revealed that Abduyari, who has had brushes with a past Inspector General of Police in relation with fraud investigations, might have offended some powerful interests in the police when he referred a direct criminal complaint to the Magistrate’s Court in Abuja, ostensibly to clear his name following the publication of some allegations against him in the online newspaper, Sahara Reporters.
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