Bayelsa Police, Immigration reject bribe N4m in murder case
By Tapre Timine, Yenagoa
Operatives of Operation Puff Adder of the Bayelsa State Police Command, alongside officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) in Festac Town, Lagos, have rejected a N4 million bribe allegedly offered by George Idumangi, the prime suspect in the murder of 42-year-old estate agent, Richard Ekpebu.
Nigerian NewsDirect gathered that Idumangi, arrested on Monday while attempting to collect his international passport at the NIS office, reportedly made frantic efforts to avoid being handed over to the police.
Security sources disclosed that the suspect initially offered immigration officers N4 million to secure his release, later proposing an additional N2 million to delete a file from his new mobile phone. Investigators further revealed that Idumangi offered N3 million for the outright destruction of the device, but all attempts were sternly rejected.
His arrest followed intelligence-sharing between the Immigration Service, Operation Puff Adder, and the Area E Police Command in Lagos.
A senior police officer in Yenagoa stated that when Operation Puff Adder operatives, led by CSP Chris Nwaogbo, arrived in Lagos to take custody of the suspect, he repeated the bribery attempt. Both his phone and processed international passport are now in police custody, pending transfer to Yenagoa for further investigation.
Other individuals linked to the murder include Victor Shadrack (also known as “Doggy”), an individual identified as Insurance, and Miss Victory Benard Henry, who allegedly received N1 million for her role in the crime.
Confirming the development, spokesman of the Bayelsa Police Command, SP Musa Mohammed, said: “Yes, he offered them the bribe.”
Meanwhile, the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide expressed dismay over the alleged involvement of some of its members in the crime. IYC President, Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri, described the incident as shocking, stressing that the council remains a peace-driven organisation.
Lokpobiri expressed condolences to Ekpebu’s family and commended the police for apprehending the suspects. He urged the public to cooperate with law enforcement to ensure justice is served.
“We stand firmly against crimes and criminality. While some criminal elements may infiltrate any organisation, including security agencies, they do not define our group. The IYC remains committed to promoting peace, justice, unity, and development,” Lokpobiri said.
He added: “Because the deceased was a promising Ijaw youth pursuing legitimate business, the IYC shares in the grief of his family and friends. We will support the police in their efforts to unravel the circumstances of this heinous crime and ensure justice, serving as a deterrent to others.”
Ekpebu was abducted and murdered in July, with his body later discovered along the new Otuoke road.