The Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested social critic Justice Ozobi over allegations that the state Commissioner of Police collected N4.2 million in bribes to secure the release of suspects arrested over a land dispute.
The arrest was disclosed on Friday by the Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer, Joshua Ukandu, in a statement.
Ozobi, who is based in Anambra State, had made the allegation in a Facebook post published on August 31, 2026.
In the post, the social critic alleged that the Ebonyi Commissioner of Police received N700,000 each from six families, totalling N4.2 million, in exchange for the release of their sons who had been arrested.
According to Ozobi, the arrests were linked to a land dispute involving some residents and Sunday Oketa, the traditional ruler of Oroko Onuoha Community in Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
He further alleged that officers attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) initially released the suspects after their families made the alleged payments but later arrested them again and charged them to court.
The Ebonyi Police Command had previously denied the bribery allegations against the Commissioner of Police, Ukandu said.
He added that Ozobi was arrested in Anambra State and subsequently brought to Ebonyi State for investigation.
The police spokesperson also accused the social critic of using the photograph of a former Ebonyi Commissioner of Police in one of his social media posts.
According to Ukandu, the use of the photograph exposed the retired senior police officer to what he described as “unwarranted public ridicule and embarrassment.”
Ozobi reportedly acknowledged that using the former commissioner’s photograph was inappropriate and said he had taken it down. However, he maintained his allegation that money was collected by the police in connection with the release of the suspects.
Ukandu said the police command recognised citizens’ constitutional right to freedom of expression but would not accept what it described as the deliberate circulation of false, malicious or defamatory claims capable of damaging the reputation of the police command and the Nigeria Police Force.
He advised members of the public to verify information before publishing or sharing it online.
The police spokesperson also encouraged individuals with genuine complaints against police officers or the command to use the appropriate channels to submit their petitions for investigation.
The investigation into the allegations is ongoing.
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