A Superintendent of Police, Ibrahim Ezekiel Sini, who declined a bribe of N150 million from a Lagos businessman and founder of Platform Capital, Akint
A Superintendent of Police, Ibrahim Ezekiel Sini, who declined a bribe of N150 million from a Lagos businessman and founder of Platform Capital, Akintoye Akindele, has been rewarded with a plot of land in Abuja.
FCT police commissioner, Benneth Igweh, who presented the land, said SP Sini’s conduct had brought pride to the Nigeria Police Force.
“We are proud of you, I want to let you know that your conduct has brought pride to the Nigeria Police Force. We urge other members of the force to emulate SP Sini,” Igweh said while presenting Sini with the documents of the land.
One of the organisers of the presentation ceremony, the chief executive officer of Vegas Homes, Prince Chukwuemeka Okoye, said SP Sini’s conduct was exemplary and should inspire others to note that the police force has men of integrity and good conduct.
“SP Sini’s action has not only brought honour to himself and the Nigeria Police Force but also inspired others to stand firm against corruption and uphold the highest ethical standards. His integrity serves as a beacon of hope, demonstrating that even in challenging circumstances, it is possible to remain true to one’s values,” he said.
Okoye said the ceremony was just one means of appreciation they had in store for him.
“To reject N150 million takes discipline, the fear of God and professionalism,” he added.
Akindele, who was remanded in Kuje prison by a High Court of the FCT in August 2023 offered the N150 million bribe to pervert the course of investigation in a petition against him.
He was arrested after a petition submitted to the police by Summit Oil International Limited and was alleged to have swindled the firm of $5. 6million and N73.5million.
According to the charge, the bribe was offered to make the police allow him escape abroad and write a favourable report on him after investigation.
SP Sini said he rejected the money because he preferred to have peace of mind, remain truthful to the mandate and core values of the police force and maintain the integrity of his family name.
Speaking at the dinner organised to honour him in Abuja, 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. 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 so 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.
Sini advised youths in the country not to trade their integrity for anything.
Sini added, “To the youth out there, I just want to tell them that integrity counts, that it’s good to be up and doing, that it’s possible to be in the midst of a lot of challenges and still stand to be different. Nigeria is our country, and Nigeria shall be great.”
