By Tony Okafor, Awka
A Chief Superintendent of Police, Ms Nkeiruka Nwode, has defended her role in the investigation of an alleged fraud involving the withdrawal of over ₦100 million from a suspect’s bank account in Anambra State, insisting that her actions were professional and aimed at protecting the integrity of the Nigeria Police Force.
Nwode, who served as the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer (ZPRO) of Zone 13 during the incident in 2023, said she had been subjected to what she described as “sponsored media attacks and blackmail” despite her efforts to uncover those responsible for the alleged crime.
In a statement issued on Monday, the police officer narrated how the matter began on January 21, 2023, when a lawyer, Barrister Nweke, and a woman identified as Onyinye Ekwueme visited her office to report that two brothers, Chibuike and Tochukwu Ekwueme, had been arrested by a Joint Task Force on January 11, 2023, and their whereabouts were unknown.
According to her, the lawyer also alleged that more than ₦100 million was being withdrawn from the bank account of one of the suspects without authorization.
Nwode said she immediately took the visitors to the then Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of the zone, Abutu Yaro, who contacted the Anambra State Commissioner of Police at the time, Echeng Echeng, to verify whether the suspect was in police custody.
“The commissioner later confirmed that the suspect was in custody,” she said, adding that the AIG subsequently directed the officer in charge of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Awkuzu, CSP Patrick Agbazue, to report to the zonal headquarters for questioning.
She said that during the interview at the zone, the RRS commander confirmed that the suspects were in his custody and disclosed that money had been withdrawn from the suspect’s account by a National Youth Service Corps member serving at the unit, identified as Nnamdi Daniel Emeh, also known as Nelson.
Nwode explained that efforts were immediately made to trace the corps member, who had allegedly gone into hiding. According to her, his phone lines were switched off except for his WhatsApp contact.
She said the lawyer representing the suspects provided debit alerts from the account as evidence of the withdrawals, while the family also complained that they had previously searched for their relatives at military and Department of State Services (DSS) facilities without success.
The police officer noted that her major concern at the time was the potential damage to the reputation of the police if the allegations proved true.
“My focus was on multiple options including tracking the main suspect whose whereabouts were unknown,” she said.
Nwode stated that after several days, the corps member eventually contacted her through WhatsApp and alleged that the money was in the custody of CSP Agbazue.
She said she instructed him to report to the police authorities to clarify the matter, but he declined, claiming that his life was in danger.
She added that further investigations using the bank alerts led the police to a First Bank account belonging to one Iloama Oliver Azubike, where about ₦46 million had been deposited in several transactions.
According to her, Azubike, who was identified as the Vice Chairman of the Bureau de Change operators at the Onitsha Main Market, was arrested and questioned.
“He said a DSS officer, Paul Okorie, asked him to provide the account and later instructed him to convert the money into dollars and deliver it to a bank worker identified as Obiora Onyedika,” she said.
Nwode explained that Onyedika was later arrested at Sterling Bank in Onitsha and admitted that he collected about $56,000 on behalf of Okorie.
She said the banker subsequently contacted the DSS officer on the phone while in police custody, and the conversation, which was heard by senior police officers present, suggested that the funds had originated from the suspect’s account.
According to Nwode, the investigation later led to a court order placing a Post-No-Debit restriction on the accounts linked to the DSS officer.
She said despite her role in pursuing the investigation, she later became the target of negative media reports allegedly sponsored by individuals connected to the case.
Nwode maintained that she had no operational role in the RRS unit but became involved solely to ensure that the alleged fraud was properly investigated.
She also said that she eventually traced the fleeing corps member to the Benin Republic, where he was arrested and brought back to Nigeria.
The police officer said it was unfair that her actions had been interpreted negatively when she was attempting to uphold professional standards.
“If I had collected money and refused to pursue the case, nobody would be blackmailing me today,” she said, adding that her actions deserved commendation rather than criticism.
Nwode urged Nigerians to appreciate officers who uphold professionalism and integrity in the course of their duties.
