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By Emmanuel Ajayi
A businessman has accused the Nigeria Police Force’s Force Intelligence Department (FID) of bribery.
Mr. Sajith Mahdu, an Indian national and procurement officer at Nostromo, recently petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, alleging that he was subjected to various human rights violations by his employer. Among his claims were the unlawful seizure of his international passport and non-payment of 10 months’ salary.
The officers in the allegation, including Deputy Inspector General Benjamin Nebolisa Okolo, his personal assistant, M.M. Gadzama, and investigative officers, Sunday Agboji and Matthew Abu, were accused in media reports of demanding a N750,000 bribe from a vendor in a disputed commercial transaction.
However, a senior police officer who declined to be named has dismissed the allegation, saying that there was no evidence to support the claims.
The police officer dismissed the accusation following a closer examination of the facts surrounding a commercial dispute between two business entities.
The case centres around a business dispute involving Nostromo Trading Nigeria Ltd, an import and export firm, and its vendor, Mr. Aliyu Abba, chief executive officer of Multi Business Ventures. The dispute concerns a failed N819 million supply transaction, which resulted in an alleged shortfall of N150.7 million.
Following Mahdu’s petition, the Force Intelligence Department commenced investigations. It was this process that led to allegations of bribery against the investigating officers. Reports had suggested that officers sought a bribe from Abba on behalf of senior police officers, a claim that has now been found to lack credible basis, according to police sources.
The police investigation resulted in the arraignment of Abba on Monday, August 4, 2025, after which he was remanded in Keffi Prison. He was later granted bail on Wednesday, August 6. Mahdu is now serving as a prosecution witness in the case.
According to police records, Abba received a total sum of N948,369,300 from Nostromo Trading, but goods delivered were reportedly worth only N835,797,112.50, leaving a balance of over N150 million unaccounted for. The case remains before the courts.
Meanwhile, attention has been redirected to allegations that IPO Matthew Abu and his colleague demanded and collected a N750,000 bribe from the vendor—supposedly on behalf of the PA to the DIG of FID, who was allegedly acting on behalf of his boss.
