A federal High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State has adjourned till June 18 this year for the continuation of criminal case preferred against a DSP in the office of the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police, Benin City, Mr. Temple Nwankawoala.

The DSP was alleged to have demanded N1million bribe from a suspect under Investigation by the Police in Benin City.

The Prosecution Team led by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) had dragged the accused person to the Court for demanding bribe and taking bribe contrary to Section 28 of the ICPC Act 2000.

The case which commenced on June 26, 2007 had suffered several adjourned but the Prosecution had closed their case after calling on all its witnesses while the defence is yet to close its case.

The accused person who was arrested by the Operatives of the Commission during a string operation following a Petition that he demanded N1 million bribe from a Suspect in the Police custody.

Before his arrest, the DSP demanded the bribe based on a Petition written to the AIG’s Office against one Elder Alex Okiye, in Benin City, Edo State in which the respondent to the Petition was alleged to have dismissed his former Staff (Mr. Monday Ebohinmen) and owed him up to N2 million.

The Petitioner informed the ICPC that it was while they were trying to settle the case that the Police Officer demanded the N1 million before he would close the Case.

The DSP was alleged to have threatened to arrest and detain the trailers which the respondent uses for lifting fuel being a petroleum dealer as well as threatened to arrest his Staff working with the NNPC depot if he failed to give him the N1 million.

It was based on the persistency of the demand that a Petition was written to the Commission and investigation commenced immediately. A string operation was carried out during which the suspect agreed to collect the initial sum of N500, 000 being part payment of the bribe of N1 million.

The Police Officer was said to have received the bribe in the N500 denomination and quickly transferred the money to one Kurtis Imosigha whom he had made an arrangement with to follow him and carry some loads. He was arrested with the money and the person who accompanied him.

Mr. Imosigha confessed to the Operatives of the Commission that he did not know anything about the money that was handled over to him by the accused person.