Baze Varsity Lecturer Risks Prosecution Over Alleged Defamation Of Police Force

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has addressed and clarified what it called a false and misleading claim circulating on X (formerly Twitter), by one Adamu Garba Zango, a lecturer at Baze University in Abuja, about a purported arrest of a Deputy Commissioner of Police for supplying arms to bandits in Kaduna State.

The NPF said Zango, while recirculating a picture which has been in the internet archives since 2019, alleged that it was that of a Deputy Commissioner of Police serving at the Kaduna State Police Command, who was arrested for supplying firearms to bandits and kidnappers.

But, a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Friday night, said that the individual depicted in the shared photograph on social media by Zango was not a serving member of the Nigeria Police Force.

The Police image-maker added that Zango’s action was a violation of laws concerning defamation and cybercrime, and the Police may pursue appropriate legal action against him.

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“Investigations have revealed that the man in the image is one Kingsley Udoyen, a civilian who was arrested by the Akwa Ibom State Police Command on January 2nd, 2019 for impersonating an Assistant Commissioner of Police. At the time of his arrest, Udoyen was found to have been using a fake police rank to defraud and intimidate unsuspecting members of the public. Items recovered from his residence included an English pistol without ammunition and portraits of various police ranks.

“It is also important to point out that there is no connection between the Kaduna State Police Command and the false allegations propagated by Mr. Zango. The Nigeria Police Force condemns the spread of false information, which not only tarnishes the image of the Force but also undermines public trust and safety,” the Police spokesperson stated.

He further urged members of the public to verify information from credible sources before sharing same. “The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to transparency, accountability, and the pursuit of justice. Spreading unverified claims is a violation of laws concerning defamation and cybercrime, and the Police may pursue appropriate legal action against individuals or entities involved in disseminating such falsehoods,” ACP Adejobi warned.