A police officer has become a darling of the world after demonstrating that there are indeed noble and respectable people serving in the police force, especially in Africa, where officers are often tainted as trigger-happy and bribe-loving.
Sentome Obi, a police officer in the Nigerian Police Force, has been awarded the Police Officer of the Year Award for 2024 and promoted to a new rank.
For Obi, who serves as Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), this achievement in his career is not the result of favor from a godfather higher in rank, but courtesy of a deed that many thought was foolish of him.
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In 2024, Obi had a chance to join the millionaires’ club after people linked to abduction suspects offered to credit his account with over $17,000, about Sh2.19 million, but he rejected the enticing offer, despite the meager salaries in the police force.
The officer says the move popularized him back then, but a section of his family, friends, and people not associated with him in any way resented him for rejecting money he had never seen in his life.
“It was mixed feelings. Some were happy and others were not. But in the end, all are now happy based on the reward from the state government and recognition by various bodies. I have never seen that type of money in all my life. But you will recall that it is a regimented organization. The integrity of the organization is at stake.
It was a case based on incredible intelligence of suspects who specialize in organ harvesting, rituals, and other fraudulent activities. Based on credible intelligence, it was acted upon, and the suspects were arrested and several items were recovered, which goes to confirm that the intelligence was credible,” he was quoted by Nigerian news outlet The Nation.
Obi was decorated alongside ACP Aliyu Shaba.
“The promotion and decoration of these officers clearly demonstrate the Force’s commitment to acknowledging and rewarding officers who consistently carry out their service to the nation and its citizens exceptionally. The IGP again re-echoed the decision of the Force Management that any officer who wins Police Officer of the Year Award, wins the IGP Commendation Award, or has won a category award in the last two consecutive years shall be recommended to the Police Service Commission for accelerated promotion,” the Nigerian Police Force said in a statement on X.
Obi revealed that he has since been gifted a three-bedroom house and a brand-new car—two gifts more costly than the bribe he rejected.
His actions are a testament that integrity pays, and that the reward is even bigger—even if it may not come immediately.
Back home in Kenya, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission recently released a report revealing that the Ministry of Interior is still plagued by the menace of bribery.
Other ministries that were put on the spot included the Ministry of Health and Lands. The report listed police officers, KRA officers, chiefs, county inspectorate officers, lawyers, and county revenue officers as top bribe takers.
The report also recognized that the urgency of services needed by some members of the public contributed to the bribery menace, since some citizens voluntarily offered bribes to get served quickly or bypass certain procedures.
However, despite the report, the Kenya Police Service still boasts gallant officers who have not been swayed by the dragon of graft.
