THE Police Cybercrime Centre and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have invited the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) and one of its investigative reporters; these invitations are believed to be connected to a report which exposed abuse of office by two Nigerian former inspector-general of police (IGPs) and other senior officers.
The Centre’s executive director, Dayo Aiyetan, and the reporter, Nurudeen Akewushola, will honour the police invitation at noon today accompanied by a team of lawyers, while Aiyetan will be at the ICPC to provide information to help the agency’s investigation into the allegations of corruption in the Police force.
While the Police invitation, according to an invitation letter from the Cybercrime Centre is related to an investigation relating to “cyberstalking and defamation”, the ICPC invitation is to help the agency’s investigation into the allegations in the ICIR report.
In its invitation, the ICPC said it is investigating “a case that bothers on an alleged violation of provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related OffencesAct 2000 and it has become necessary to have recourse to your organisation.”
It is believed that both investigations relate to an investigative report published by The ICIR titled, “Two former IGPs, senior Police officers accused of bribery in shady land sale of designated Police Barracks.”
In its invitation, the Police claimed it is probing a case of cyberstalking and defamation of character based on a petition received by the office of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Criminal Investigative Department, but provided no details.
Recall that on May 15, the ICIR had received an letter from the Cybercrime Centre inviting its managers and Akewushola to appear before it on April 24. The letter written dated April 16 was not delivered to the ICIR until three weeks later long after it was supposed to have honoured the invitation.
In its response to this first invitation, The ICIR raised some concerns to the police, including the disparity in invitation and delivery dates, and the lack of details of the petition which led to investigations for cyberstalking and defamation of character. The ICIR requested that more details of the petition should be provided so that it could adequately prepare for the police interview.
In a second letter from the NPF-NCCC to The ICIR dated May 20, 2024, two copies of which were addressed separately to the reporter and the “managing director,” the discrepancy in the dates was adjusted but details of the allegations against the centre and its reporter were not provided
“The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre is investigating a case of cyberstalking and defamation of character reported to the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Criminal Investigation Department, Area 10 Abuja, in which your presence is needed.
No comments:
Post a Comment