NIGERIAN POLICE PROMOTE OFFICER WHO SIGNED DISMISSAL OF DETECTIVES WHO REJECTED ₦8 MILLION BRIBE, EXPOSED KWARA CAR THEFT RING

The Nigeria Police Force has reportedly continued to promote Emma Adegboyega Oyeleye, the senior officer who signed the dismissal documents for two detectives who allegedly rejected an ₦8 million bribe while investigating a suspected car theft syndicate in Kwara State.

The development has renewed questions about police accountability and the unresolved dismissal of the two former detectives, Shola Akano and Glorious Babatunde, who were removed from the force in July 2020 after investigating the alleged criminal network.

According to a report published on Monday, October 12, 2026, Oyeleye was serving as an Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Administration when he signed the dismissal signal for the two officers on July 21, 2020.

A senior police source reportedly disclosed that Oyeleye received a promotion in February 2023 and was promoted again in 2026, reportedly attaining the rank of Commissioner of Police. The reported promotions have raised concerns because the former detectives say their own case has yet to receive a conclusive resolution.

The controversy dates back to an investigation into the theft of a Toyota Camry belonging to a resident of Ilorin, Kwara State. The vehicle was reportedly stolen at gunpoint from Abdulrasak Omowunmi’s residence in December 2018, prompting a police investigation.

Akano and Babatunde were among the officers assigned to investigate the case. In October 2019, they reportedly traced the stolen vehicle to Nasarawa State, where they arrested two suspects, John Opagbile and Charles Oluwatuyi.

According to accounts provided by the former detectives, the suspects were found with the stolen Camry and four other vehicles allegedly bearing forged registration documents. The officers said their investigation subsequently pointed to a wider vehicle theft network and identified a car dealer, Ajadi Habeeb, as a suspected leading figure in the operation.

The former detectives alleged that as the investigation progressed, they encountered resistance from some senior officers who they believed were attempting to frustrate the case. They claimed that an ₦8 million bribe was offered to persuade them to abandon the investigation and prevent the suspected network from facing prosecution.

Babatunde and Akano maintained that they rejected the alleged bribe and continued pursuing the investigation. They also alleged that officers who were not originally assigned to the case became involved in questioning suspects, raising concerns about interference with their work.

Babatunde previously recounted that the detectives reported the situation to their superiors and that disciplinary action was initially taken against some officers involved in the dispute. However, he alleged that subsequent interventions undermined their efforts to bring the suspected crime network before a court.

The former detective also described an incident involving a planned operation to arrest Ajadi. According to his account, an arrangement was made for officers to apprehend the suspect, but the operation did not proceed as expected, and Ajadi allegedly escaped in a vehicle with a police officer inside.

The detectives further alleged that an officer involved in the controversy later received a new posting connected to the police station they claimed had been built by Ajadi. These allegations have not, in themselves, established criminal wrongdoing by the individuals named.

In March 2020, Akano and Babatunde were reportedly detained and subjected to an internal police disciplinary process over allegations that they extorted ₦1.19 million from a man identified as Fatai. They denied the allegations and maintained that they were being punished for refusing to compromise the car theft investigation.

The two officers were subsequently dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force, with Oyeleye signing the document that formally communicated their removal from service. The former detectives have continued to dispute the circumstances surrounding their dismissal and have called for the case to be reviewed.

One of the former officers said they were invited to Abuja in January 2021 as part of an investigation into the matter but had not received a conclusive outcome. Their account has raised questions about whether the allegations surrounding the original investigation and their dismissal were fully examined.

The case has previously attracted public attention, including calls for the police leadership to revisit the circumstances of the dismissals. In March 2026, the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) reportedly petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, seeking justice, reinstatement and accountability over the officers’ treatment.

RULAAC’s petition alleged that the detectives were victimised after uncovering a suspected criminal network and accused some senior officers of interfering with the investigation. The organisation also called for a review of the evidence and circumstances surrounding the officers’ removal from service.

The Nigeria Police Force has previously maintained that the two officers were dismissed following an internal disciplinary process over alleged misconduct. In a 2023 response to the controversy, the force defended the disciplinary proceedings and rejected claims that their dismissal was simply punishment for exposing a car theft ring.

The latest reported promotions have therefore intensified the debate over the case, particularly because Oyeleye’s career progression contrasts with the former detectives’ continuing demand for a resolution. However, the fact that he signed the dismissal signal does not, on its own, establish that he acted unlawfully or was involved in the alleged bribery.

The outstanding questions include whether the allegations of interference in the car theft investigation were properly investigated, whether the disciplinary proceedings against the detectives were fair and whether the police authorities will conduct a fresh review in response to the renewed calls for accountability.

Street News Reporters will continue to monitor developments in the case, including any response from the Nigeria Police Force, further action by RULAAC and the former detectives’ efforts to obtain a review of their dismissal.