Yusroh Lawal
The Nigeria Police Force is once again facing a storm of public outrage following fresh allegations of corruption and abuse of power against a senior officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ogundele Olorunwa, who currently serves as Area Commander, Zone 2, Abeokuta.
In a strongly worded petition, the Ogun State chapter of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) accused Olorunwa of institutionalising bribery, undermining court orders, and exploiting complainants who approached his office for justice.
The allegations, if proven, could deepen public mistrust in a police system already struggling to rebuild its credibility.
“Justice for Sale”
According to the CDHR, ACP Olorunwa openly admitted in a recorded conversation with a human rights investigator that petitions submitted to his office would only be treated if money exchanged hands.
The group alleged that the officer demanded between ₦100,000 and ₦200,000 from complainants, leaving petitions unattended when bribes were not paid.
“This is a travesty and a clear indication of the rot within the Nigeria Police Force,” the CDHR declared in its statement signed by its chairman, Comrade Fumbi Onifade, and secretary, Comrade Ali Adesina.
The organisation said the recording—which it described as “damning”—is evidence of a deliberate culture of extortion, adding that Olorunwa even boasted that the practice was the norm in Zone 2 Lagos, under the supervision of an Assistant Inspector General of Police.
Alleged Contempt of Court
The rights body also accused the officer of defying a valid High Court judgment in Suit No: AB/390/2025 by seizing the property of citizens based on false allegations.
Even when presented with the subsisting judgment, Olorunwa allegedly went further to order the detention of an individual who challenged his actions.
“This is not just corruption but a total disregard for the rule of law and due process,” CDHR said, warning that such impunity poses a grave danger to Nigeria’s fragile justice system.
A Blow to Police Reforms?
The allegations against Olorunwa come at a time when the Ogun State Police Command, under Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, has been praised for improving security and restoring some level of public trust.
Observers fear that the controversy could undermine those efforts, especially as the allegations strike at the heart of public perception of the police as an institution rife with systemic corruption.
For decades, Nigerian police officers have been accused of extortion, brutality, and disregard for human rights.
The #EndSARS protests of 2020 exposed these issues on a global scale, forcing government promises of reform. Yet, rights groups argue that cases like Olorunwa’s show that little has changed.
The Ultimatum
The CDHR has now given the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Police Service Commission seven days to investigate, prosecute, and discipline the officer.
Failure to act, the group warned, would be interpreted as a tacit endorsement of corruption at the highest levels of the Force.
The statement also called for collaboration with Amnesty International, the Civil Liberties Organisation, the National Human Rights Commission, and other advocacy groups to track Olorunwa’s alleged abuses in his current and past postings.
Victims Urged To Speak Out
In an unusual move, the CDHR has invited victims of Olorunwa’s alleged extortion and rights violations to come forward and share their experiences confidentially.
“The goal is to liberate his many victims, past and present, who have suffered injustice as a result of his disgraceful conduct,” the group said.
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