Why I rejected N150m bribe from businessman – policeman

By Biola Adebayo On Jun 30, 2024

Abuja, bribe, policeman, Ibrahim Sini, Akintoye Akindele, — SP Ibrahim Sini

A Superintendent of Police, Ibrahim Sini has said he turned down a N150m bribe allegedly offered to him by a Lagos-based businessman, Akintoye Akindele to have peace of mind.

Akindele who was arraigned for the offence at the Federal High Court in Abuja in August 2023 was remanded in the Kuje correctional centre.

According to the charge sheet, the bribe was offered to allow police to permit him to escape abroad and to write a favourable report for him after the investigation.

Sini was said to have led the Inspector General of Police’s team of investigators handling the case against the businessman.

Speaking at a dinner organised to honour him on Friday, Sini said, “I am very happy to be here and I want to appreciate the organisers of this programme. They have beat my imagination and they have added more grease to my elbow.

At the event, Sini was given a plot of land in Abuja.

“Yes, I remember when the incident happened, the person in question asked me, do you want to be rich? He said this is an opportunity for you to be rich.

“So what I said was that it depends on the kind of riches. I would like to have money that I can lay my head down and sleep at night. I don’t want to have something that will make me think twice and be running from one hole to another. So, I would like to do justice and have peace of mind.

“So, I decided to do the right thing so that I can have peace of mind and also stand to do what is right for myself, for my organisation, that is, the Nigeria Police and also for the country at large.”

He advised youths in the country not to trade their integrity for anything.

Presenting the document of the land to Sini, the Federal Capital Territory Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh said SP Sini’s conduct has brought pride to the Nigerian Police Force.

It could be recalled that the office of the Inspector General (IG) of Police, had a four-count charge against Akindele that included diverting the sum of $5,636,397.01, and N73,543,763.25, belonging to Summit Oil International Ltd.

Akindele and his company, which is the second defendant in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/570/2023, were said to have committed the act between 2017 and 2021 when they allegedly converted the said sum received from Shell into personal use.

Count one of the charge reads: “That you Akintoye Akindele male 49 years MD/CEO of Duport Midstream Company Limited of D2 Mambilla Close Osborne Estate Ikoyi Lagos and Duport Midstream Company Limited of 42 Alexander Avenue Ikoyi Lagos between October 2017 and November 2021 in Lagos

state within the jurisdiction of this honourable court while acting in concert conspire together to commit felony to wit: Stealing by conversion of the sum of $ 5,636,397.01 Million USD and N73,543,763.25, you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 516 of the Criminal Code law, Cap C38 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”

Count two: “That you Akintoye Akindele male 49 years MD/CEO of Duport Midstream Company Limited of D2 Mambilla Close Osborne Estate Ikoyi Lagos and Duport Midstream Company Limited of 42 Alexander Avenue Ikoyi Lagos between October 2017 and November 2021 in Lagos state within the jurisdiction of this honourable court while acting in concert Stole by dishonest conversion to your

use the sum of $ 5.636,397 01 Milton USD and N73,543,763 25 property of Summit Oil International Limited, you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 387 and Punishable under section 390 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Count three: “That you Akintoye Akindele male 49 years MD CEO of Duport Midstream Company Umited of D2 Mambilla Close Osborne Estate Ikoyi Lagos and Duport Midstream Company Limited of 42 Alexander Avenue Ikoyi Lagos between October 2017 and November 2021 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court while acting in concert Stole the sum of $5, 636,397.01 Millon USD and

N73 543,763.25 property of Summit Oil International Limited, which you received from Shell Western Supply and trading limited under direction to transfer same to Summit Oil International Limited, you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 385 and punishable under Section 390 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C38 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”

Count four: “That you Akintoye Akindele male 49 years MD CEO of Duport Midstream Company Limited of D2 Mambilla Close Osborne Estate Ikoyi Lagos and Duport Midstream Company Limited of 42 Alexander Avenue Ikoyi Lagos between October 2017 and November 2021 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court while acting in concert Stole, by dishonestly converting to your use the sum of $ 5,636,397.01 million USD SS and N73,543,763.25 property of Summit Oil Intemabonal Limited,

you received from Shell Western supply and trading limited on behalf of Summit Oil International Limited on account of the contract you and your company entered into with Shell Western Trading Limited and you failed to deliver the money to Summit Oil International Limited, you, therefore, committed an offence contrary to Section 388 and punishable – under Section 300 of the Criminal Code law, Cap C38 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”