The Edo State Police Command is set to unjustly dismiss a policewoman, Inspector Edith Uduma, for exposing alleged sexual molestation of a female detainee at a police division in Etsako West in Edo State.
The Bureau Newspaper learnt that the policewoman had witnessed the incident involving one Sergeant Abraham Ozobor and a female detainee whose name is kept anonymous for sake of human sanctity.
The detained female was removed from the cell where she was kept to the administration unit of the cell where the now dismissed officer Abraham, drugged her and had carnal knowledge of her.
The victim was aged seventeen as of the time of the incident.
Sources familiar with the issue told The Bureau Newspaper that after witnessing the incident, the police divisional officer was contacted, same as the station officer and one Inspector Inah Yibala.
It was however gathered that the DPO, SP Osemwegie Lilian, failed to act on the incident by reporting to appropriate authorities up until five days after the incident took place.
Sources told The Bureau Newspaper that Edith was asked not to file the case immediately but she did, a development that angered the Ibie Divisional Police Officer, Lilian, when she resumed the next day.
It was also understood that Inspector Edith was pressurised to drop the issue by the DPOs of Ibie Police station, Jataau and Auchi.
It was gathered that when the DPO did not act, Edith reached out to a Personal Assistant to the police commissioner, to report the incident. She was asked to go to the area command to report.
Our source confirmed the development, telling SaharaReporters that the case was reported to the personal assistant to the commissioner.
“It was the personal assistant to the police commissioner that informed the commissioner, after the DPO failed to do so.
“It was after the commissioner got aware that the DPO wrote a signal saying she was never informed.”
The Bureau Newspaper understands that after the policeman molested the detained female, the victim was freed immediately by the Police unit at Ibie police station with no attempt to take her for medical care.
It was also gathered that the victim was pressurised by the police authorities to change her statement.
Confirming the development, a source stated that there were several pressures on Edith to change her statement in order not to disgrace the police force.
Edith, while confirming the incident, denied posting the video on social media, she however confirmed that the police informed her of her impending dismissal.
A statement seen by The Bureau Newspaper showed that the incident was not reported to the Police headquarters in Edo until October 12th, after the video of the incident had gone viral on social media.
When contacted, the police Public Relations Officer in Edo State, Moses Yamu accused Edith of receiving bribes of N45,000 from Abraham who had carnal knowledge of the victim, he also accused her of demanding another N1 million instead of reporting the case.
He also confirmed that the Police officer involved in the sexual molestation had been dismissed.
Edith however denied collecting any bribes.
The Bureau Newspaper understands from impeccable sources that an officer, Inah Yibala, who also witnessed the case was the one who collected money from the arrant police officer and the money had been recovered.
“I never collected the money I am accused of. The DPO is just angry that the case got out especially as she retiring on 15th of November.”
Not just Edith, The Bureau Newspaper understands that the police authorities went as far as demoting Edith’s husband because according to the authorities, he was in the know of the case.
Before the demotion, he was an inspector.