Dismissed Police Officer Stole N20m, Earned Salaries From 15 Different Commands --IG Tells Court

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos yesterday heard how a dismissed
Nigerian Police officer, Victor Afam Banor, earned salaries illegally
from 15 different police commands in the country.

The accused also allegedly stole N20 million meant for salaries of
officers of the Enugu State Police Command, the Inspector-General of
Police, Suleiman Abba, told the court.

Banor was dismissed while serving at the Umunede Police Division in
Delta State for allegedly stealing an exhibit vehicle in a criminal
case under investigation.

He, however, escaped from police detention and turned up at the Enugu
Command with a falsified signature, claiming to still be a Deputy
Superintendent of Police (DSP).

Following the retirement of the officer-in-charge (O/C) of the
command's Mechanised Salary Section (MSS), Banor resurfaced and
assumed office as the O/C MSS.

It was while holding this position, albeit illegally, the suspect
allegedly absconded with the said amount in March 2011.

"While absconding from office, Banor dropped a note stating that
nobody should look for him because he had resigned to join militant
groups at the creeks of the Niger Delta region", Abba told the court.

Abba stated these in a counter-affidavit filed in opposition to an
application by Banor praying the court to release him from police
detention.

Banor said he had been held for over eight months without charge, and
prayed the court presided over by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, to either
order his release or direct the police to charge him to court.

The applicant noted that his continued detention violated his
fundamental rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.

Joined as respondents in the case are the IGP, the Commissioner of
Police, Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Adeniji Adele Road, Lagos,
and the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), DSP Solomon Igwe.

In the counter-affidavit filed on Tuesday by the Officer-in-Charge of
the Legal Department (O/C Legal), Zone 2, Mr. Justin Enang, the police
authorities prayed the court not to release Banor because he could
tamper with ongoing investigation into his alleged crime.

According to the police, several officers under Banor complained that
their salaries were diverted, [but] he did not turn up until he was
arrested in Onitsha, Anambra State on April 15.

When he was arrested, he was said to have claimed to be a Chief
Superintendent of Police (CSP) flashing a police warrant card and
demanding to be shown respect as a "senior officer".

In his ruling on the bail application sought by Banor, Justice Aneke
adjourned till November 21.