Francis Erhabor: An oasis in the desert

BY RAPHAEL EDEM

I heard about him before I even had the pleasure of meeting him, and when I met him, my first impression was that what I heard of him didn’t even go the whole extent of capturing how courteous and professional this gallant police officer was. I had a course to interact with him on several occasions in the course of my official duties. He communicated effectively but respectfully and always had this no-nonsense mien whenever he was at his duty post. I was pleasantly surprised when I learned that he was the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the ‘D’ division of the Nigeria Police in my home village of Nung Ukot Itam. I decided to visit him in his office and pay him my courtesies and therein began my interesting relationship with arguably the finest law enforcement officer I have ever come across, CSP Francis Erhabor.

The image that the Nigeria Police has acquired for itself over the past decades has been rather unpalatable. This has been largely due to the corrupt tendencies of most policemen and their very unpleasant attitude to their duties. As anybody who has had any dealings with the police would attest to, the general disposition of the average Nigerian policeman is that of intimidation, hostility, and exploitation. Most of them are always on the lookout for the slightest opportunity to fleece money off anybody who comes in contact with them. A 2019 Corruption Perception Survey conducted by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, indicated that the Nigeria Police are the most corrupt institution in the country.

A part of the report stated that “a bribe is paid in 54 percent of interactions with the police. In fact, there is a 63 percent probability that an average Nigerian would be asked to pay a bribe each time he or she interacted with the police. That is almost two out of three.” Most Nigerians agreed with the findings of this survey which corroborated many other previous surveys conducted on the same subject. As a matter of fact, very many Nigerians believe that the maxim ‘police is your friend’ must rank high among the greatest ironies of all time.

However, in this desert of corruption that the police has found itself, stands an oasis of integrity in CSP Francis Erhabor, a police officer who rejected a 6 million naira bribe from oil bunkering merchants while serving in his native Edo state at a time where his monthly salary was N37,500. This gentleman has repeatedly proclaimed that he has never received a bribe in his over 30 years of service in the Nigeria Police, not even the ubiquitous N20 ‘checkpoint pass’ and nobody has come out to prove him wrong. If you ask me, that is rock-solid integrity.

At the ‘D’ division police station where he holds sway as DPO, discipline, fairness, and orderliness is the watchword. Not only has he transformed the physical landscape of the division through the provision of a new perimeter fence, a screening room, a sentry post, and a multi-purpose hall complete with conveniences and other basic infrastructure within the premises, he has also earned the division the reputation of being about the only police formation where bribes are not collected and where bail is free. His relationship with the people within his area of responsibility is very cordial but professional, and he is well-loved in the area. He has built strong ties within the host communities leading to a boost in the confidence that the people have in the police and an attendant reduction in the crime rate of an otherwise volatile area. As noted by the Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke, CSP Erhabor is a diligent, upright and patriotic public officer who has become a role model for public servants in the country. He has received several awards and recognitions from local and international organizations for his honesty and integrity in the course of his duties.

CSP Erhabor told me that when he joined the Nigeria Police in 1990, he made a vow to God that any day he receives a bribe in the course of his duties, he should not be disgraced locally, but that his disgrace should be put on national and international television stations. As I watched him receive the 2020 Public Service Integrity Award from President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday, it occurred to me that indeed, he had kept the vow he made with God 30 years ago and that God had turned disgrace into honour for him on International television.

As one of those who live in your AoR, and who has experienced first-hand your integrity, patriotism and professionalism, I salute you on this latest award, the highest yet! I pray the Almighty God to continually reward your diligent service, and that your children may also reap the benefits of your service to your country and to humanity. Even as your remaining years in the Nigeria Police are not so many, I pray for promotions for you in an unprecedented manner, and for God to protect and shield you from those who feel you are disrupting the status quo.

Congratulations Chief Superintendent of Police Francis Erhabor. You are an authentic role model!