Viral Video: Police Dismiss Inspector Gele Over Extortion

BY EDMOND ODOK – Dismissed Police Officer, Inspector Richard Gele will forever wish that events of Monday, July 25, 2022 never played out in his life and professional career.

But alas, all that are in the history book with his life now full of regrets, shame and ignominy, haunted by the popular phrase; ‘Had I known’.

No thanks to an ‘official misdemeanor’, Gele’s progressing career of about 22 years in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has unfortunately come to an inglorious, abrupt and shameful end.

And as aptly captured in the statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, announcing Gele’s dismissal from the Police, such dishonourable exit from public service should hopefully sound the alarm bell for all public officials that compromising international best practices in form of “extortion, unprofessionalism, official corruption and other inappropriate actions” would always end in disgrace and public stigma for the culprits no matter how long it may take.

The statement by Force Spokesman, CSP Adejobi, read thus; “The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed one Mr. Richard Gele, the Police Inspector caught in a viral video dignifying and justifying extortion of members of the public and official corruption which trended from the 25th of July, 2022.

“The Inspector, with AP/No. 188547, who until his dismissal, was attached to Police Mobile Force 77 Squadron, Okene, Kogi State and deployed to the Itobe – Anyigba Road, for safety of road users and commuters, along the route, where the incident occurred.

“The dismissed Inspector who hails from Benue State, was enlisted into the Force in September, 2000. His dismissal came after subjection to internal disciplinary mechanism and being found wanting of the charges levelled against him in line with extant laws governing the conduct of police personnel. He therefore ceases to be a member of the Nigeria Police Force with immediate effect.

“The officer has been de-kitted and handed over to the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State, for further necessary action.

“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc(+), NPM, fdc, while expressing the staunch commitment of his administration at bequeathing policing standards in tandem with international best practices to the nation, warned all personnel to eschew extortion, unprofessionalism, official corruption and other inappropriate acts.

“The IGP urged them to display exemplary courage and patriotism in the discharge of their duties.”

CSP OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI, mnipr, mipra
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
FORCE HEADQUARTERS
ABUJA
29th July, 2022