For over a month, there have been mixed reactions over the circumstances that led to the Edo Police Command dismissing Edith Uduma, a policewoman who exposed Abraham Uzuobor, her colleague, for molesting a 17-year-old inmate.

Uzuobor and Uduma both worked in the South Ebie Police Division in Edo, but their time in the force came to an end after the former stole the latter’s charge room keys on the night of October 7, went to take a female inmate out of custody, and then attempted to molest her before Uduma caught him.

Uduma has maintained to the public and the press that she reported the matter to Lilian Osemwegie, her DPO at the time, but the police claim she conspired with Ibrahim Mohammed, her husband, and Yibala Ina, his friend, to demand N1 million to bury the matter.

EQ spent the past month reviewing evidence and speaking with insiders to establish the true nature of events. EQ has found incontrovertible evidence of Uduma’s demand for a bribe.

On the night of the incident, Uduma called Mohammed to report the incident to him, insiders privy to the matter told EQ. Mohammed and Inah left their station in Area Command, Auchi, Edo, to meet Uduma at her station.

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While there, Mohammed demanded N1 million cash payment, but Uzuobor said he could not raise that much. He left and returned with N45,000 cash. This, he handed to the three. Afterwards, he left the station.

‘MONEY IS TOO SMALL’

After leaving the station, Uzuobor called Uzuma to appeal to her to help beg her husband to drop his demands. In Igbo language, a language they both understood and spoke fluently on the call, Uzuobor said she should help him as he could help her in future.

Replying in Pidgin English, Uduma said, “Wetin I say make you do, abi you no wan do am? Shebi e get wetin me and you talk.“

EQ understands that they were talking about the monetary demands, as Uzuobor replied, “I don drop am for them. E de with your people.“

“Which my people?” Uduma quizzed.

“I drop the thing for them, dem say if the girl commot for station tomorrow, say dem go know how to do,” Uzuobor responded.

“Shebi you sef know say that thing wey you drop too small. Na wetin Raggae de here de complain.” Uduma told him her husband was complaining because what he tendered, according to her, was too small. Reacting, Uzuobor said he would see her when he resumed work the next day.

PANIC CALL

In the wee hours of October 8, Uduma called Uzuobor. She said she had learnt of a plot he was staging to wriggle out of the situation.

Angrily, she began demanding he pay N1 million to her in cash, lest she inform Osemwegie, the Force Public Relations Officer, Area Command, Auchi, and others.

On the phone, she says, “All your plans, make dem release you today, I don hear am. If you no want make me and you get issue, make you give me that N1 million wey me and you talk.

“I don tell you, make you give me that N1 million. Cash o, na cash I want. If no be like that, I go come this morning, I go tell madam this morning, as I tell madam, I dey go Area Command, and as I tell Area Command, I dey call PA for Benin. Make I just tell you say I get that contact.

“I dey tell you, e get one group wey I dey, ask my husband, na Force PPRO de control am. I go post this thing there, and write everything there. You know I don interview that girl, I go write everything there. That foul play wey you wan play, no use me play. That movement wey you want make dem release you today, e no go work. Bye-bye.“

READ MORE: Edo Police Insist on Bribery Claim as Dismissed Policewoman Cries Foul, Threatens Suicide

During both calls, Uduma recorded the conversation.

When Uduma spoke to The Punch, she claimed Osemwegie told her to make the call to lure him to the station, but the two recordings EQ listened to confirmed Uzuobor planned to appear at work to negotiate a bribe, and Uduma mentioned reporting to the DPO in a bid to threaten her colleague.

THE CATCH

When Uduma concluded she could not get more money from her colleague, she logged the matter and informed the DPO. This insider told EQ she narrated to the DPO that she had the man’s pleas on tape, but when she wanted to send the first call recording, she accidentally sent the second one containing her forceful demands.

“She was going to send the first recording of the call Uzuobor initiated,” the source told EQ.

“However, she sent the second one, and the DPO saved it. When the DPO began playing it aloud, she hurriedly deleted it for everyone. You know WhatsApp has this feature.

“The DPO was able to retrieve the saved version and this helped open a case against both of them.

“While taking her statement, Uduma changed her story and said she only demanded money so she could see how he would react. She wrote it down in her statement.”

On November 16, Harrison Gwamnishu, an activist and aide to the Delta State Governor, posted on X a video of Uduma claiming she never demanded money from her colleague.

EQ also gathered that when Mohammed heard of his wife’s dismissal, he took up his gun and threatened to kill other policemen. His action led to his and Inah’s arrests and demotion. Both men, along with Uzuobor, remained in custody at press time.

On Thursday, EQ called Moses Yamu, the Edo police spokesman, for comments on the matter, but he refused to speak. Yamu said the police had already published press releases on the incident and would prosecute the matter in court.
The post AUDIO: How Dismissed Edo Cop Edith Uduma Demanded N1m From Rapist Colleague to Bury Case appeared first on Foundation For Investigative Journalism.