A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), under the aegis of Eagle Eyes International Foundation, has petitioned the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun alleging that one CSP James Idachaba, a 70-year-old man, is still in the service and compromising cases.
Eagle Eyes Transparency made the allegation in the petition with file number: ST6/2202333, dated 21st June 2023, entitled “ACP Aba James: A 70-year-old man in Nigerian Police Force, sold criminal case files to the highest bidders“, signed by the Research Analyst for the President, Mustapa Bello.
The Whistleblowers stated that Idachaba, the immediate past OC legal of FCT Command, has spent between 35 to 47 years in the Force and is well over 70 years of age.
“He is a specialist in documents falsifying. He sells case files to the highest bidder in any case before him as the OC legal,” said Eagle Eyes.
The petition reads in part: “CSP James Idachaba, a 70 years old man is still in the service and compromising cases.
CSP JAMES IDACHABA the immediate past OC legal , NPF FCT – Command has spent between 35 to 47 years in the Nigerian Police Force. He is over 70 years of age. He is a master case file seller as the OC legal NPF FCT – Command.
“He is a specialist in documents falsifying. He sells case files to the highest bidder in any case before him as the OC legal. He and his kinsman, SP Moses Adama illicitly sell case file, falsified their ages and seniority list.”
According to them, Idachaba does not want to leave the FCT legal unit because of the atrocities committed.
They further alleged that he is currently lobbying for his kinsman SP Moses Adama to be retained to cover up the crimes he committed, including selling of sensitive case files to the highest bidder.
Eagle Eyes stated: “Idachaba was recently promoted Assistant Commissioner of Police about 3 months ago, he refused to resume at his new station in Lagos until the immediate past IGP gave him query to answer why he is still in the NPF service and gave the current Commissioner of Police, FCT, query on why he has not released Idachaba James to report in Lagos State.
“Idachaba currently has minimum of 5 allegations on him before the Attorney General of the Federation on cases ranging from outright sale or abrupt withdrawal of cases in the courts after he was settled.”
The Whistleblowers claimed that they petitioned the IGP and investigation were carried out on Idachaba, hence the query issued by the IGP in June 2023.
The petition added: “James Idachaba celebrated the removal of IGP Alakali Usman Baba believing that the IGP is his enemy.
“What is James Idachaba’s qualifications at the point of entry into the NPF in the 1980s? Who actually sat for the WEAC Idachaba James used to enroll into University of Jos? Has the statutory 35 years in service or 60 years of age for civil and public servants in Nigeria changed?
“Who are Idachaba James course mates in the Nigerian Police Force? Are they currently in the service? If they are, where is their units?
“He bragged to his audience during his celebration of the immediate past IGP Alkali Usman Baba that he has the backing of the New Inspector General of Police and that of the Chairman of Police Service Commission. Could his bragging be true?
“Even if true, how old is Idachaba James? Why was he issued query in June 2023? Why would Idachaba James at age 70 years be in the Nigerian Police Force? Is the Nigerian Police Force devoid of records of it’s personnels?”
Eagle Eyes Transparency International, therefore, called on the Inspector General of police to request for Idachaba’s file and to follow up to a logical conclusion on what the immediate IGP started transparently.
The group warned that they shall have no choice than to seek legal action against the NPF, PSC and Idachaba himself after a reasonable time from now as this matter has been lingering for upwards of two years now.
“We know how the NPF is quick to arrest and detain civilians even when case is not fully established like Idachaba James own,” the petitioners noted.
The petition also has the AGF, NSA, PSC, ALL DIGs, ALL AIGs, media Rooms and CSOs as recipients.
News Band contacted the Force Public Relations Officer at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, Prince Olumuyiwa Adejobi, through WhatsApp for his reaction to the petition but he has yet to respond at the moment of this publication. Read more.
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