Policeman Who ‘Rejected N864m Bribe’ Considers Resignation Over ‘Injustice’

Francis Erhabor, the divisional police officer of Itam, Akwa
Ibom state police command, who is said to have rejected a total of
N864 million bribe in three years, is yet to resign as widely
reported.

On Saturday, there were reports that Erhabor had resigned from
his job over forces that stunted his chances of being promoted.

The reports claimed that the officer, who is a chief
superintendent of police (CSP), started considering resignation
after witnessing a pattern that has allegedly seen his subordinates
repeatedly get promoted to become his superiors while his rank
remained the same.

However, SP Odiko MacDON, Akwa Ibom State Police Public
Relations Officer, in a statement made available to newsmen on
Saturday on behalf of the State Commissioner of Police, CP
Amienghene Andrew, said the publication is false.

The statement with reference number “AZ:5300/AIS/PPRD/VOL.6/01”,
stated that appointments and resignations of the NPF are not done
on social media.

However, Source told our correspondent that Erhabor is yet to
resign, although he earlier underwent a three-day break to ponder
leaving the security outfit.

In January last year, the officer had received the 2019
Integrity Icon Award for “rejecting a N6 million weekly bribe to
compromise the security system” while he was a pipeline commander
in Edo. This was despite his allowance of N37,500.

He was honoured alongside four other nominees in Abuja in an
event organised by Accountability Lab in partnership with Luminate,
MacArthur, and Ford Foundation “to name and fame honest government
officials.”

During his receipt of the Integrity Icon award, Erhabor had
said: “I almost compromised if not for the mercies of the Lord. The
story that is making frontline today that has brought me here was
when I had just N800 in my pocket.

“I was a pipeline commander in Edo state, where I had worked for
close to three to four years. My actual allowance was just N37,500
from the government, which was not coming when due.

“And I had a few persons who dangled N1.5million to me and they
were to be giving me N6million every week. And if I were to be
there for 30 days, that is N24 million. I eventually spent more
than three years.

“Because of that decision I took before I entered the
force—because I had taken an oath that the day I compromise myself,
‘Lord just embarrass me, show me on TV. Make me stick to the
N37,500 that was not forthcoming’.

“It didn’t go without persecution and agonism. Sometimes my life
was threatened. But I earned respect and trust; got confidence not
only from my colleagues but also from outside forces. The outcome
has paid off.”

The officer had first joined the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) as
a cadet inspector in 1990. He would later reportedly volunteer as
an instructor to train the Police Mobile Personnel at Limakara,
Gwoza in Borno for over three years.

Francis Erhabor, the divisional police officer of Itam, Akwa
Ibom state police command, who is said to have rejected a total of
N864 million bribe in three years, is yet to resign as widely
reported.

On Saturday, there were reports that Erhabor had resigned from
his job over forces that stunted his chances of being promoted.

The reports claimed that the officer, who is a chief
superintendent of police (CSP), started considering resignation
after witnessing a pattern that has allegedly seen his subordinates
repeatedly get promoted to become his superiors while his rank
remained the same.

However, SP Odiko MacDON, Akwa Ibom State Police Public
Relations Officer, in a statement made available to newsmen on
Saturday on behalf of the State Commissioner of Police, CP
Amienghene Andrew, said the publication is false.

The statement with reference number “AZ:5300/AIS/PPRD/VOL.6/01”,
stated that appointments and resignations of the NPF are not done
on social media.

However, Source told our correspondent that Erhabor is yet to
resign, although he earlier underwent a three-day break to ponder
leaving the security outfit.

In January last year, the officer had received the 2019
Integrity Icon Award for “rejecting a N6 million weekly bribe to
compromise the security system” while he was a pipeline commander
in Edo. This was despite his allowance of N37,500.

He was honoured alongside four other nominees in Abuja in an
event organised by Accountability Lab in partnership with Luminate,
MacArthur, and Ford Foundation “to name and fame honest government
officials.”

During his receipt of the Integrity Icon award, Erhabor had
said: “I almost compromised if not for the mercies of the Lord. The
story that is making frontline today that has brought me here was
when I had just N800 in my pocket.

“I was a pipeline commander in Edo state, where I had worked for
close to three to four years. My actual allowance was just N37,500
from the government, which was not coming when due.

“And I had a few persons who dangled N1.5million to me and they
were to be giving me N6million every week. And if I were to be
there for 30 days, that is N24 million. I eventually spent more
than three years.

“Because of that decision I took before I entered the
force—because I had taken an oath that the day I compromise myself,
‘Lord just embarrass me, show me on TV. Make me stick to the
N37,500 that was not forthcoming’.

“It didn’t go without persecution and agonism. Sometimes my life
was threatened. But I earned respect and trust; got confidence not
only from my colleagues but also from outside forces. The outcome
has paid off.”

The officer had first joined the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) as
a cadet inspector in 1990. He would later reportedly volunteer as
an instructor to train the Police Mobile Personnel at Limakara,
Gwoza in Borno for over three years.