The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has dismissed Inspector Edith Uduma for allegedly collecting a bribe to conceal a rape case involving Sergeant Abraham Uzuobo.
Uzuobo was accused of raping a 17-year-old female suspect detained at the South-Ibie Police Station in Edo State. The suspect was in custody for allegedly receiving stolen property.
In October, a video surfaced on social media showing Uzuobo hurriedly wearing his trousers while the female suspect lay on a chair in a room at the police station. In the video, Uzuobo was seen confronting a female officer recording the incident.
Uduma, identified as the officer recording the video, was the charge room officer (CRO) on duty at the time. Instead of reporting the incident, Uduma allegedly involved her husband, Inspector Ibrahim Mohammed, in demanding a bribe from Uzuobo.
According to Muyiwa Adejobi, NPF spokesperson, Uduma and her husband initially demanded ₦1 million from Uzuobo to suppress the case. Uzuobo reportedly paid ₦45,000 in cash, but after refusing further payments, the couple reported the incident to the divisional police officer (DPO) and shared the video online.
Adejobi confirmed that disciplinary actions were taken against all parties involved. Uzuobo has been dismissed, prosecuted, and is currently in prison awaiting trial. Uduma was dismissed from the force, while her husband was demoted to the rank of sergeant.
Adejobi also addressed allegations made by Uduma following her dismissal. He emphasized that thorough investigations provided irrefutable evidence of her misconduct, including failure to report the incident, attempts to conceal it, extortion, and compromising the justice process for personal gain.
“The dismissal of former Inspector Edith Uduma was necessary and justified,” Adejobi said in a statement. “Her actions violated the ethical standards of the police force.”
