RULAAC Executive Director, Nwanguma, declines Edo Police invitation, says CP cannot be judge in his own cause

RULAAC says: “The allegations your office purports to be investigating involve the Edo State Commissioner of Police (Abutu Yaro) which the office of the DCP reports to.”

By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor

Executive Director of Rule of Law, Accountability and Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Okechukwu Nwanguma, has declined the invitation of the Edo State Police Command, saying honouring the invitation negates the principles of natural justice.

According to RULAAC’s lawyer, Samuel Akpologun, honouring the invitation of the Edo Police Command is tantamount to submitting to a judge in his own cause.

The judge, RULAAC says, is the Edo State Police Commissioner, Abutu Yaro, who is being accused of releasing suspected oil thieves after allegedly collecting N7 million bribe from them.

The suspects, according to RULAAC are; Sunday Chukwuka ‘M’; Julius Omoniyi ‘M’, Nelson Gabriel ‘M’ Temple Ogandu ‘M’ Osaretin Bigdaddy ‘M’, Destiny Edowouyi ‘M’ Demian Joseph ‘M’; Peter Ovie ‘M’ and Abhulimen Austin.

They were arrested by the SIB with 600 gallons of 20 litres each of chemicals used for the adulteration of petroleum products loaded in a truck, 5 pumping machines, and three blank waybills without metre ticket numbers. But released after Abutu transferred the case to the anti-kidnapping unit, RULAAC said in a report published by Sahara Reporters.  

RULAAC further alleged that the police boss, Abutu Yaro, gets N2 million daily from oil theft from several locations in Edo through someone who allegedly coordinates economic sabotage in the state.

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The Edo Police Command has now asked Nwanguma to appear before the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department following the publication. But Nwanguma said because the Deputy Commissioner of Police reports to the Commissioner, Abutu Yaro, it would negate the cause of natural justice to submit himself to him.

The letter reads: “We are solicitors to Mr Okechukwu Nwanguma (our client) on whose instructions we write this letter. Our client is the Executive Director of the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, RULAAC.

“Our client has referred the letter of invitation emanating from the office of the DCP dated 19th October 2022 to our office. In the said letter our client was invited to dialogue with the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Benin City on Friday 21 October in respect of a Sahara Reporters publication on a case of ‘conspiracy, official corruption and corrupt practices which was published on 17th October 2022.

“Our client has a lot of respect for the police and indeed, your office. Our client and the organization he heads are friends and supporters of the police, and for that matter, proponents of police reforms in Nigeria. This underscored why our client would have readily honoured the said invitation. However, our client is of the considered view that it would amount to a travesty of the law and a breach of the principles of Natural Justice, equity and good conscience to honour the said invitation, as the same would amount to submitting to a judge in his own cause.

“Furthermore, the allegations your office purports to be investigating involve the Edo State Commissioner of Police which the office of the DCP reports to. Meanwhile, It is common or public knowledge that the matter is already being investigated by the Police Force Headquarters in Abuja. In view of the aforesaid and in the interest of justice and the rule of law, our client is prepared to contribute his bit, as allowed by the law, in getting to the roots of this matter under an impartial investigation.”