On Wednesday, the Lagos State Police Command made an official announcement regarding the dismissal of Sgt. Ekpo Shimuyere from the force. Sgt. Shimuyere, who was stationed at the Sogunle Division, was dismissed for the offense of extorting N98,000 from a young man. The decision to dismiss him was confirmed by SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Police Public Relations Officer, during a briefing with journalists. Furthermore, it was revealed that the command’s Provost Department had already taken steps to remove Sgt. Shimuyere from his official duties.
As per the statement provided, the dismissed sergeant, Ekpo Shimuyere, confiscated the phone belonging to the victim and proceeded to utilize a Point of Sale (POS) device to transfer N98,000 from the young man’s bank account, which had a total balance of N100,000. SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Police Public Relations Officer, emphasized that such actions by the policeman are in direct violation of the professional ethics expected of law enforcement personnel. Upon receiving the complaint from the victim, the police command took immediate action by detaining the officer to prevent any potential tampering with evidence. Despite being confronted with the allegations, the sergeant denied involvement in the crime.
Following the completion of the investigation, the dismissed sergeant was subjected to an orderly room trial, which is a disciplinary proceeding conducted within the police force. The trial was conducted in accordance with the existing laws and regulations governing such proceedings.
After reviewing the orderly room procedure and considering the evidence presented, the Commissioner of Police for Lagos Command, Mr Idowu Owohunwa, made the decision to dismiss the sergeant from the force. This punishment reflects the seriousness of the offense committed by the officer and serves as a deterrent to others within the police force.
The dismissal of the sergeant signifies the official termination of his employment with the police department, effectively removing him from duty and severing his connection to the force. This decision highlights the commitment of the Lagos State Police Command to maintaining the integrity of the police force and ensuring that officers are held accountable for their actions.
