Police, netizens trade words over IGP secretary’s ‘N1m’ Samsung phone, luxury watch

Muyiwa Adejobi, the public relations officer of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), says it is ridiculous for Nigerians to believe that officers cannot afford expensive phones.

Adejobi, while responding to a query on his X handle, on Saturday, said netizens need to be “straight and be objective” when questioning police officers’ source of income. 

HOW IT STARTED

On Friday, Adejobi posted a picture of one David Victoria, a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) and secretary to the inspector general of Police (IGP), who appears to be holding a Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 and a diamond-branded watch around her wrist.

“We have beautiful and intelligent ones in the force. This is DSP David Victoria, secretary to the IGP. Happy weekend. Ire o,” Adejobi wrote.

Netizens, who reacted to the post, asked for a disclosure of the officer’s salary that could afford a cellphone worth N1 million.

An X user also requested that Victoria’s account statement be printed out to track her cash inflow claiming her salary cannot afford such an expensive gadget.

“Her cellphone, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold, is worth over a million naira. I don’t wanna talk about her wristwatch, which is also not cheap. Where did she get the money from, and how much is her monthly salary that she was able to afford all that?” the social media user wrote.

In response, Adejobi said police officers are not paupers, while asking the X user to withdraw his statement.

“Police officers are not paupers. Withdraw your statement. It’s ridiculous to us to say a DSP can’t use Samsung fold 2…. you need to reason straight and be objective. Do you know what it is to be a DSP?” Adejobi said.

HOW MUCH DOES A DSP EARN? 

According to some available data, a deputy superintendent of police on grade level 10 (10) earns ₦170,399.69 monthly and ₦2,044,796.28 per annum, while a deputy superintendent of police on grade level 10 (1) earns ₦148,733.29 monthly and ₦1,784,799.48 per annum.

But TheCable could not independently confirm the figures.

Checks by TheCable showed that a 256GB Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 price ranges from ₦700,000 – ₦750,000 based on location. Also, for a 512GB Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2, the price ranges from ₦800,000 – ₦850,000.