By Onuchukwu Hamilton.
On the 12th of September, 2023, the media platforms of Imo base, were briefed on a case of official misconduct that was linked to a particular Joint Task Force team (JTF)formed With three officers of the NDLEA , two officers of NSCDC and Inspector Odidika Augustine of the Nigeria Police Force.
The reported case as made public by the State Police Command Owerri, came from the victims who alleged that they were being extorted and maltreated by officers of this JTF team.
The Article 11(1) of the Universal Declaration of human rights, 1948 & Article 14 0f the International Covenant on Civil Rights, 1966 and Article 7(b) of the African Charter on human and People’s Rights, all of which Nigeria has asserted to, was duely applied in this case.The cardinal principal of all criminal trials is that the prosecution must prove all the elements of offence necessary to establish a guilt. By section 138 of the evidence Act, the burden of Proving a crime, is upon the party who asserts and the standard required, is to proof beyond reasonable doubt.
Sequel to the above and the claims of innocence by the accused, the Command under CP Ahemed Barde, quickly moved into investigation to either dismiss , discipline the culpable and vindicate the innocent because no law provides for a holding charge to be held like a sword of Damocles over a person.
To the surprise of many police officers, Inspector Augustine Odidika provided an admissible evidence of how earlier, he had distressingly wired a message to the Imo State Police Command Complaint Desk( the Control room) and detailed them concerning the said case of extortion and misconduct by his team members. Further investigation from the complainants, exposed the fact that Inspector Odidika had never supported his co- officers in the whole saga. He was remarkably vindicated.
Following this record of innocence and act of professionalism, Inspector Odidika Augustine has since then, been vindicated, promoted to a senior Inspector of Police. He is enjoying all the accruing benefits as a serving police officer including the recent enhancement course which he greatly benefited from.
