Lagos Police Dismiss Corporal for Stealing and Selling Seized Motorcycles

Lagos PRO, DSP Ngozi Braide

Chiemelie Ezeobi

The Lagos State Police Command recently dismissed one of its personnel, Corporal Gaborone Falogbade, with Force number 444123 for misconduct, an action the command says enforces to its zero tolerance to corruption and indiscipline. 

The dismissed corporal was charged for stealing one of the seized motorcycles which was taken from defaulters at Ikorodu area of the state as part of the recent ban on motorcycles by the state government.

The state government had recently banned commercial motorcycles from 475 out of the 9,100 roads in the state and had charged the police with the responsibility of enforcing the law.

It was gathered that Folagbade had gone to where such seized motorcycles were parked, connived with another officer and snuck one out. Although he was said to have sold it, some chain of events exposed his act and he was arrested.

Confirming the dismissal the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the command's zero tolerance to such misconduct is equal to none.

She said, "The Lagos State Police Command wishes to use this medium to re-assure the members of the public of her zero tolerance to corruption and other vices from any member of the command.

"In a swift demonstration of our principle, F/No. 444123 Cpl. Gboroye Folagbade attached to Ikorodu Division has been tried in an orderly room for an offence of Discreditable conduct for stealing a motorcycle."

She said the offence is contrary to paragraph (E) of the first schedule of Police Act and Regulation 370, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990, thereby necessitating his dismissal.

She said, "The Commissioner of Police Lagos State Command, Umar Manko,  promptly reviewed the proceedings and upheld the findings of guilt and thereby approved subject’s dismissal from the force with effect from 16/1/2013.

All police uniforms and other accoutrements have been retrieved from the suspect and he has been arraigned with one other to Chief Magistrate Court 11 Ikorodu on 17/01/2013 in Charge No. IKD/B/05/2013 for prosecution."