Another source pointed out that CSP Sini not only rejected the bribe but is also pursuing the prosecution of the man who offered it.
The Nigerian police authorities, led by Kayode Egbetokun, have been accused of bias and ignoring merit in their recent promotional exercise.
These allegations were made by family sources and top police insiders, who said that while various officers were promoted, CSP Ibrahim Sini — who rejected a bribe of N150 million in 2024 — was not included in the promotion list.
“Given the feat of rejecting the amount, everyone had thought he would be specially promoted this year, but we were all surprised that nothing came forth. How do you want to encourage such integrity?” a source within the Force told SaharaReporters.
A relative of the affected officer said that although the officer has not complained about the situation, they were disappointed by the lack of compensation or any special reward for such an honourable act.
“When we heard of the promotions, we had thought by default that his name would be there, but it was not,” the family source said.
“While the officer is saying he will continue to serve with merit, we expected that at least he would be recognised, that’s how the police can thrive.”
Another source pointed out that CSP Sini not only rejected the bribe but is also pursuing the prosecution of the man who offered it.
“What else would you want from an officer than such diligence to duty? He is even ensuring prosecution, staying on the case. The appropriate thing to do to raise the spirit of officers is to acknowledge them as the IGP (Inspector General of Police), but that did not happen,” one of the sources said.
In June 2024, it was widely reported that Sini turned down a N150 million 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.
Sini was said to have led the Inspector General of Police’s team of investigators handling the case against the businessman.
On June 29, 2024, it was reported that friends and associates of Sini honoured him at a special event where they eulogised his gallantry in rejecting the bribe.
He was also recognised by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command for the act.
SaharaReporters learnt that Sini was only promoted to the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police in a routine promotional exercise alongside other coursemates, but there was no special promotion to recognise his act of rejecting N150 million.
Meanwhile, an officer, Sentome Obi — who SaharaReporters has reported as wrongly claiming to have rejected $17,000 (N30 million) from a kidnapping ring — got a special promotion and was named Police Officer of the Year in the now controversial promotion exercise supervised by the embattled IGP Egbetokun.
The promotion exercise under IGP Egbetokun has already drawn criticism over allegations of bias and nepotism, with revelations that allies of the police chief have been rewarded with unmerited promotions.
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