2 Cops, 4 Nigerians Nabbed For Using IGP Name

The two policemen in police custody

Two police officers and four Nigerians who allegedly used the name of the Inspector General of Police, Paul Tawiah Quaye, in collecting an amount of $10,000 from a Lebanese have been arrested by the police.

The policemen are Lance Corporal Charles Mensah and Constable Emmanuel Akummey, with ID numbers 35400 and 42140 respectively, both stationed at Sakumono police station.

The Nigerian accomplices are Eruke Ibenni 26, Aganayi Issah, 38, Joshua Akpodu, 39, and Linda Uboko, 39 from the oil-rich Delta State.

Briefing newsmen in Accra, the Director General of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), DCOP Frank Adu-Poku, indicated that on October 30, 2009, the police had information that some Nigerians were using the name of the IGP to extort monies from foreigners.

The information gathered indicated that Dr Maurice Bchouty, a Lebanese national, had been a victim of the Nigerians who had collected an amount of $10,000 dollars from him in the name of the Police Boss.

He stated that on Saturday October 31, 2009, some CID personnel went to the hotel of the Lebanese to monitor the situation.

“In the process, the officers arrested the suspected policemen who had approached the victim with the intention of collecting an amount of $10,000 dollars.”

According to the CID Boss, during interrogation, it was established that the policemen were sent by the Nigerians who had earlier on collected various sums of money from the victim.

He revealed that the policemen then led the team to arrest the four Nigerians including a woman.

DCOP Adu-Poku indicated that whilst in detention, suspect Eruke Ibenni was identified by some robbery suspects as their accomplice who was at large.

The CID Boss said investigations are on-going to get to the bottom of the matter.

By Linda Tenyah