Lawyer accuses Police Commissioner of shielding oil theft suspect, petitions Tinubu
A lawyer Myson Nejo, has petitioned President Bola Tinubu, accusing Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adewole, of shielding a suspect in an oil bunkering case while targeting him and his client for arrest.
Penpushing reports that Nejo in the petition dated October 17, 2025 claimed that the police boss protected Jide Afolabi, Managing Director of Nathern Energy Products and Allied Services Limited, from prosecution for alleged crude oil theft.
The petition copied to the Minister of Police Affairs, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Police Service Commission, explained that the case began in 2023 when Afolabi’s company chartered the tugboat M/V Aya Oba Olori II, owned by Dandy Oluwayemi of Atis-Das Nigeria Ltd, to transport crude oil later discovered to have been illegally obtained.
Penpushing further reports that Nejo added that while the tigboat and crew were arrested, Afolabi went into hiding, leaving Oluwayemi to face trial at the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt.
The Abuja based legal practitioner stated that efforts to trace Afolabi reportedly failed for two years, until May, when he resurfaced at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Port Harcourt, to negotiate compensation with Atis-Das Nigeria Limited.
Penpushing also reports that he said he alerted the Rivers State Police Command, leading to Afolabi’s one-day detention at Eneka Divisional Police Station, stating that during interrogation, Afolabi allegedly admitted liability and signed a memorandum of understanding to pay N40 million in compensation.
The petitioner, however, claimed that Commissioner intervened, ordered Afolabi’s release, and subsequently took action against him and his client, while the tugboat crew and Atis-Das Nigeria Limited remained charged before the Federal High Court.
Penpushing reports that Nejo explained that following Afolabi’s release, he and his client were accused by the Rivers State Police Command of kidnapping and receiving proceeds of crime, resulting in detention by the X-Squad Unit.
The lawyer also alleged that the police obtained an ex parte court order freezing his bank account, despite Afolabi admitting liability and agreeing to compensation, stressing that the development was shocking.
“It is shocking that the same Jide Afolabi, who admitted his role in bunkering and entered into a written agreement to pay N40 million, has found refuge under the Commissioner of Police, while I, a legal practitioner who assisted the police, am now being framed for kidnapping’ Nejo stated.
Penpushing further reports that the lawyer who in the petition attached several documents, including the memorandum of understanding signed by Afolabi, disclosed that previous complaints to the Inspector General of Police went unanswered, prompting him to escalate the matter to the President.
The petitioner equally cited Afolabi’s fundamental rights suit confirming a N10 million payment into Nejo’s account, as well as the ex parte orders obtained to freeze his account, argued that the Commissioner of Police came after him despite being aware of all the documents showing Afolabi’s admission of involvement in oil theft and payment of compensation.
Penpushing also reports that in his prayers urged President Tinubu to direct Adewole to produce Afolabi before the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, under charge number FHC/PHC/215C/2024, or to mandate the Inspector General of Police to take over and review the case.
The petitioner in same vein, called for the withdrawal of the ex parte order obtained in suit number FHC/PH/MISC/489/2025, describing the allegations against him as trumped-up charges.
“I respectfully pray that CP Olugbenga Adewole be ordered to produce Jide Afolabi before the court to stand trial, and that the Inspector-General of Police should take over and review the facts to ensure justice is done’, Nejo wrote.
Penpushing reports that the Commissioner of Police in his response, described the complaints against him as blackmail, explaining that he doesn’t investigate cases but only supervise when need arises
“Please I don’t investigate cases, I only supervise when needed. Please tell your complaint to ask the officer investigating his case or link you with his IPO to brief you on any matter of concern pls. This is just cheap blackmail and defamation of my character and person. Thanks for reaching out, stay blessed pls’, he declared
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