Four Police officers dismissed over Jonathan’s Stolen Properties

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has dismissed four policemen for stealing domestic appliances and attire belonging to former President Goodluck Jonathan which they sold to traders.

The cops had stolen six televisions, fridges, air-conditioners, Ijaw attire and designer suits from Jonathan’s residence in Gwarimpa which they sold to traders at the Pankera second-hand market in Gwarimpa, Abuja.

The errant officers were dismissed after they were found culpable in an orderly room  trial.

They are Sergeants Musa Musa, John Nanpak, Ogah Audu and Gabriel Ugah, a statement on Thursday by the FCT police spokesman, Anjuguri Manzah, said.

He added that detectives were on the trail of one Mallam Shuaibu, who bought the items.

The police explained that the orderly room proceedings in respect of Inspectors  Lengs Satlakau and Usman Wuduki had been forwarded to the Assistant Inspector-General, Zone 7 for further action.

The statement read, “In fulfilment of the promise by the FCT Police Command to make public its findings on the investigation of the case of theft at the Gwarimpa residence of former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the command wishes to state that in line with the first schedule of the Police Act and Regulation 370 Cap 19, the policemen guarding the house have been tried in orderly room proceedings and found culpable of the offence.

“Sequel to the outcome of the orderly room proceedings, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Musa Kimo, has approved the immediate dismissal of the policemen from the Nigeria Police Force.”

The command pointed out that it would prosecute the main culprit, Sgt. Musa, adding that this was in compliance with the vision of the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, “to rid the Nigeria Police Force of criminal elements that are out to disparage the good image of the Force.”

Traders also expel chairman

Meanwhile, the leaders of the  Pankera second-hand market, Gwarimpa, has expelled their chairman, Ibrahim Bagobiri,  from the market for allegedly buying household materials and attire stolen from Jonathan’s residence.

The traders also asked him to come out of hiding and report himself to the police immediately for investigation.

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command in a statement said three policemen were already in custody in connection with the theft, adding that investigation was ongoing in the matter.

But one of the Pankera market leaders, Ibrahim Adamu, in an interview with our correspondent alongside other members on Thursday, said they were shocked by Bagobiri’s involvement in the case.

They noted that he had by his action brought shame on the traders.

He explained that the market union chairman, who is in hiding, did not inform his colleagues about the incident until they heard about it in the media.

Adamu said, “We are so disappointed in him over this incident. He didn’t inform us about it and his number has remained switched off, he is unreachable.

“He is no longer a member of this market, he is gone forever. He can no longer sell here (in the market). He has brought shame upon us and can no longer be our member.”

The trader admitted to seeing Bagobiri with policemen but noted that there was no way he could have asked them what business they were transacting together.

“When we see him with policemen, you can’t ask him questions because we don’t expect the chairman to be involved in an illegal act with a policeman,” he said.

Adamu explained that the traders were not worried about the sale of stolen materials in the market because according to him, they usually verify the source of any second-hand property brought to the market for sale.

He added that policemen from the Gwarimpa Division and from the FCT command visited the market regularly on surveillance, noting that this gave the traders confidence that nothing criminal could take place in the market.

Another market leader, Aliu Ali, said they did not buy or sell stolen property in the market, noting that they had on several occasions foiled plots to sell stolen property to unsuspecting traders by reporting the incidents to the police.

Asked how they verified second-hand products brought for sale by members of the public, Ali said they usually demanded purchase receipt or ask the prospective seller to take them to the source of the goods.

He expressed disappointment at Bagobiri’s roles in the theft at Jonathan’s residence and asked him to surrender himself to the police.

“The chairman must come out of hiding, report to the police and clear himself because this case would not die,” he stated.