$17, 000 bribe; IGP celebrates officer for receiving Policeman of the year award from Governor

$17, 000 bribe; IGP celebrates officer for receiving Policeman of the year award from Governor

Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State on Tuesday, July 23, 2025, hosted a high-level state banquet in honour of Superintendent of Police (SP) Sentome Obi, the distinguished recipient of both the Police Officer of the Year 2024 and the IGP Integrity Award.

The event, held in Yenagoa, underscored a profound recognition of courage and ethical excellence within the Nigeria Police Force.

Sentome Obi, a native of Bayelsa and the current Head of the Financial and Cybercrime Unit at Zone 16 Command, Yenagoa, garnered national acclaim for his unwavering principled stance.

He notably refused a $17,000 bribe that was intended to derail a sensitive investigation under his purview.

His actions, executed under operational pressure, have been widely lauded as exemplifying the highest standards of ethical policing.

In an unprecedented show of appreciation for his integrity, Diri presented Obi with a brand-new Toyota Corolla and a fully furnished three-bedroom bungalow.

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, in a statement by the Force Spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, lauded Diri’s gesture as a “watershed moment” in the ongoing efforts to institutionalise integrity within Nigeria’s security architecture.

The IGP emphasised that public recognition of exemplary officers serves as a powerful tool, not only for reinforcing professional values within the Force but also for restoring public confidence in policing as a noble and honourable profession.

“This is more than a commendation—it is a cultural statement

“It tells every officer that integrity is not just expected, but rewarded,” IGP Egbetokun remarked.

In line with this philosophy, the Force Management Team, under Egbetokun’s leadership, had already resolved at its meeting on Monday, June 23, to recommend Obi and CSP Aliyu Shaba, the recipient of the Police Officer of the Year award 2023, for accelerated promotion by the Police Service Commission.

The Team also approved that the portraits of Obi and Aliyu Shaba be prominently displayed at the entrances of all State and Zonal Command Headquarters, the main entrance of Louis Edet House (Force Headquarters, Abuja), and the Nigeria Police Hall of Fame on the 7th Floor of the Force Headquarters.

In a move set to transform personnel development within the Force, a merit-driven framework for promotion has been adopted.

Under this new policy, any officer who has won the police award or received the IGP Recognition Award or other national commendation at least twice in the last two consecutive award cycles will be considered for accelerated promotion.