The arrest and summary dismissal of the policeman, Chris Omeleze, caught on video soliciting twenty-five thousand
naira bribe is generating fresh debate on the endemic culture of corruption in Nigeria.
A cross-section of Nigerians, including Afro beat singer, Femi Kuti accused the central government of double standard and scape-goating a low level front of the crime while his godfathers were spared.
According to Femi Kuti, the deep-rooted malaise would not be successfully addressed until the poor wages to the rank and file of the Nigerian Police and indeed public service, is comprehensively reformed.
Several callers on different local audience participation programmes on F.M. stations condemned the hypocrisy involved in the administrative trial and subsequent expulsion of the corrupt policeman, asking: “what of the other people like Wasiu and the claim of command behind the crime. Farouk Lawan also still seats in the House of Reps.”
A commentator on BBC said that whatever the police do to punish the erring Sergeant would be considered as “too little,” when it has become obvious that high level corruption nearly goes unchallenged in the country.
The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Abubakar Mohammed, warned the force as custodians of the law to be mindful of right attitude and proper conducts at all times or get booted out like the sacked corrupt officer.