The suspension of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Abduyari Lafia has taken a new turn, with fresh details revealing a complex web of investigations, petitions, and court cases. Lafia, who headed the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID), was suspended on January 9, 2025, despite being cleared of wrongdoing by a police investigation report.
At the center of the controversy is a case involving the theft of N36 billion from a company, Woobs Resources Limited, which built a Mammy Market for the Nigerian Army in Lagos. Lafia’s team recovered N1 billion and obtained a promise to refund N18 billion. However, a lawyer, Victor Ukut, petitioned the Inspector General of Police and Minister of Police Affairs, accusing Lafia of abuse of office and other offenses.
The petition, dated April 30, 2024, alleged that Lafia and other police officers at the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) stole N692 million from Woobs Resources Limited’s bank accounts. However, a police investigation report, dated December 16, 2024, exonerated Lafia and his team, finding no evidence of robbery, forgery, or abuse of office.
Instead, the report recommended that some individuals connected to Woobs Resources Limited be tried. The report stated that there was no evidence linking Lafia and the investigating police officers to the alleged crimes. It also clarified that the Managing Director of Fidelity Bank PLC, Dr. Nneka C Onyeali-Ikpe, did not bail herself with N5 billion, but rather filled a bond on personal recognition.
Despite the detailed report clearing Lafia and his team, the Police Service Commission (PSC) suspended Lafia on January 9, 2025. The suspension has raised questions about the motivations behind the PSC’s decision.
It appears that Lafia may have offended powerful interests within the police force, particularly when he referred a criminal complaint to the Magistrate’s Court in Abuja to clear his name after allegations were published in Sahara Reporters. Lafia had previously clashed with a former Inspector General of Police over fraud investigations.
The suspension of Lafia has sparked concerns about the independence and impartiality of the police force. The case has also raised questions about the role of the PSC in disciplining police officers and the need for greater transparency and accountability in the police force.
