Delta Police Deny Extorting N2.18M from Alleged Victim, Expose Fraud in Car Deal

The Delta State Police Command has debunked allegations of extortion leveled against its officers by one Mrs. Gladys Ubogu Okeoghene, describing the claims as “false, misleading, and a deliberate attempt to evade justice and attract public sympathy.”

The allegations surfaced in several newspapers and on social media, with Mrs. Ubogu accusing the police of extorting the sum of N2,186,000 during the course of an investigation. However, in a press release issued on January 28, 2025, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP. Bright Edafe, set the record straight, detailing the true sequence of events.

According to SP. Edafe, the issue began on October 22, 2024, when Mrs. Ubogu submitted a petition to the Area Commander in Warri, Delta State. In the petition, she claimed that a car dealer had fraudulently converted the proceeds from the sale of two vehicles—a Mercedes Benz GLK and a Mercedes Benz C400—belonging to her and her son. She alleged that after instructing the dealer to sell the vehicles and use the funds to purchase another car, the dealer disappeared with the money and blocked all communication with her.

In response to the complaint, the Area Commander ordered a thorough investigation, which led to the arrest of six suspects across Lagos and Abuja. The suspects were identified as Olayemi Abiodun Moses, Nowoke Precious, Tempo Mumandira Billion, Fabian Chinonso Udeh, Ahmed Farouk, and David Solomon.

Further investigation, however, revealed a different story. It was disclosed that one of the suspects, David Solomon, who was the car dealer in question, had indeed sold the Mercedes Benz GLK for N4,000,000. Contrary to Mrs. Ubogu’s claims, the money was transferred directly to the account of her son, identified as Highness Onoruikpe, by a buyer named Austin. Evidence of this transaction was discovered on Highness’ phone in the form of a bank SMS alert.

Additionally, the Mercedes Benz C400, which had initially been recovered and released to Mrs. Ubogu, was returned to the police for further investigation after inconsistencies in her earlier petition came to light. “It became evident that the petitioner was not honest about the details of the case,” SP Bright explained.

Faced with the new evidence, Mrs. Ubogu reportedly abandoned both the vehicle and the case at the Area Commander’s office in what the police believe was an attempt to cover up her son’s involvement in the situation.

Addressing the extortion allegations, the PPRO categorically denied that the police had collected any money from Mrs. Ubogu at any point during the investigation. “The Police did not at any point collect money from her as alleged,” he stated, urging members of the public to disregard the misleading reports.

The state Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, has called on journalists, media organizations, and social media users to verify their facts before publishing or sharing information. “False reports have the potential to undermine public trust and the integrity of our institutions,” the Commissioner warned.

The Delta State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to justice and transparency, emphasizing that it will continue to serve the public with integrity.

This development highlights the need for accurate and responsible reporting, as well as the importance of thorough investigations in uncovering the truth.