"Why I Rejected N26m Bribe," Honest Nigerian Police Officer Gives Inspiring Reasons
- A Nigerian police officer Sentome Obi has been honoured after rejecting a $17,000 bribe
- He was promoted by the Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, given a new car, a house and other rewards by his state governor
- Obi said his decision came from values he learned at the Police Academy and his desire to fight corruption
A Nigerian police officer, Sentome Obi, has been promoted and rewarded by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun after turning down a bribe worth $17,000.
His integrity has earned him recognition, a new car, a house, and several other gifts, alongside an elevation from Superintendent to Chief Superintendent of Police.
Source: Facebook
Obi shared his experience during an interview with BBC News Pidgin, where he described the recognition as unexpected.
Obi mentions personal conviction as motivation
According to him, his decision to reject the bribe stemmed from values deeply rooted in his training at the Police Academy and his personal conviction that Nigeria cannot prosper without eradicating corruption.
“I never knew a day would come that I will be celebrated like this. I was only doing my duty based on what IGP Kayode Egbetokun has always been instructing and imploring us to. There are plenty reasons I rejected the huge bribe. It is from my days at the Police Academy the spirit of incorruptibility had been imbibed in me. I even wrote about it in a project I did while at the academy, I noted that for Nigeria to flourish as a nation, we will have to uproot the worsening cases of corruption, crime, and bribery in the country,” he said.
Obi added that his motivation for joining the force was not material gain but the desire to see Nigerians live and work in peace.
He explained that his role in law enforcement would always be guided by honesty, service, and the need to fight against corruption at every level.
“I joined Police because I want everyone to always go about their business peacefully and to fight corruption. The car, money and award I have received, I was not expecting them at all, because I only did what I did for the country. So, I would use my position and influence to be a good ambassador of the force,” he added.
The Inspector-General of Police commended Obi’s refusal of the bribe and described him as a role model for officers across the country.
Source: Facebook
The recognition, he said, was not only a personal honour but also a message to the wider force that integrity would always be rewarded.
Nigeria has long grappled with corruption within its institutions, particularly in law enforcement.
Obi’s case has been widely praised as an example of how the culture of accountability and transparency can be strengthened when officers resist pressure and stand by the principles of justice.
“Why I rejected N150 million bribe”: Police Officer
In a similar story, Legit.ng reported that, Ibrahim Sini, a superintendent of police, revealed he turned down a N150 million bribe to ensure his peace of mind and uphold his integrity.
It was reported that Sini was allegedly bribed by a Lagos-based businessman, Akintoye Akindele, the managing director and chief executive officer of Duport Midstream Company.
The businessman allegedly offered the bribe to Sini in exchange for the police allowing him to escape abroad and writing a favourable report for him after the investigation.
Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
