By KEMI KASUMU and ABIRHIRE THOMAS
Inspector Richard Gele became a scapegoat to further prove seriousness of the Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba’s administration about reforms, professionalism and instilled discipline and loyalty to the nation of officers and men, when the Nigeria Police Force dismissed and de-kitted him over offenses bothering on failure in same, on Friday July 29, 2022.
The dismissed Inspector, Richard Gele, standing 3nd from right with the Force PRO, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, mounting the podium presenting him for the de-kitting.
Gele was the inspector caught in a viral video dignifying and justifying extortion of members of the public and official corruption which trended from the 25th of July, 2022.
The Inspector, with AP/No. 188547 until his dismissal, according to the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, was attached to Police Mobile Force 77 Squadron, Okene, Kogi State and deployed to the Itobe–Anyigba Road, for safety of road users and commuters, along the route, where the incident occurred.
The dismissed Inspector, who hails from Benue State, was enlisted into the Force in September, 2000.
His dismissal, Adejobi said, came after he had been subjected to internal disciplinary mechanism and had been found wanting of the charges levelled against him in line with extant laws governing the conduct of police personnel.
Here the inspector is being de-kitted by Police Provost personnel.
“He therefore ceases to be a member of the Nigeria Police Force with immediate effect.
“The officer has been de-kitted and handed over to the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State, for further necessary action” he said.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, while expressing the staunch commitment of his administration at bequeathing policing standards in tandem with international best practices to the nation, warned all personnel to eschew extortion, unprofessionalism, official corruption and other inappropriate acts.
The IGP urged them to display exemplary courage and patriotism in the discharge of their duties.
