Police in Delta State have rearrested Peter Okwuokei less than a week after his release following an alleged ₦500,000 payment to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, according to a June 8 petition to the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, by the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC).
Okwuokei was first arrested about a week ago over a domestic altercation with his girlfriend at a hotel in Asaba. He was later released after allegedly paying ₦500,000 to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit through a POS agent. He shared a receipt of the payment with TheNiche.
Okwuokei also alleged that Inspector Chidozie Peter Ijemizu, alias “Bush Baby,” collected ₦100,000 to facilitate the release of his vehicle and two phones, which the Anti-Kidnapping Unit continued to hold. He shared a receipt showing a ₦100,000 payment allegedly made to Ijemizu through a POS agent.
When TheNiche contacted Ijemizu, he said he was not a police officer but a human rights activist with an organization called Daylight. TheNiche search shows there is no public record matching his name to a registered human rights organization.
On June 8, RULAAC said Okwuokei received calls to come for his vehicle and phones. Upon arrival at the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, he was rearrested.
RULAAC asked the IGP to investigate why a private dispute was handled by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, the legal basis for retaining the vehicle, the alleged ₦600,000 in total payments, and whether officers violated the Police Act 2020 and directives on bail.
The group requested an independent probe, immediate release of the vehicle if no lawful basis exists, investigation of the alleged payments, and disciplinary action against Inspector Ijemizu, Inspector Sunday Bisong Odu, and any other officers involved.
RULAAC urged the IGP to treat the petition with urgency, saying, “Credibility of police accountability mechanisms requires that allegations of misconduct against police officers be investigated impartially and transparently.”