The Integrity Youth Alliance has dismissed as misleading a petition by RULAAC and a sensational publication by Sahara Reporters alleging that operatives of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Unit were plotting to cover up the murder of a teenager in Enugu State.
In a statement issued on Monday, signed by Danjuma Lamido, spokesperson of the Integrity Youth Alliance, the group said the report titled “IGP Monitoring Unit Policemen Plot To Cover Up Murder Of Teenager In Enugu After Suspects Gave Bribe” misrepresented facts and undermined ongoing lawful processes within the Nigeria Police Force.
IYA accused the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) of errors in a petition submitted to the Inspector-General of Police, stating that the organisation mischaracterised a fresh petition written by Mr Emmanuel Okeke.
According to IYA, the petition in question relates strictly to allegations of cyberbullying and character assassination against Mr Onuoha and has no connection to the ongoing murder investigation.
The group also rejected claims that the Commissioner of Police in charge of the IGP Monitoring Unit, alongside CSP Christopher Offor and Inspector Vivian Edeh, had taken steps to subvert the murder investigation. IYA described the allegations as malicious, speculative, and unsupported by evidence.
Furthermore, the organisation faulted RULAAC for what it described as a lack of understanding of standard investigative procedures, particularly the claim that the cyberbullying petition was used as a basis to retrieve the murder case file from the Homicide Department at Force Headquarters to truncate prosecution or secure the release of a suspect.
IYA stressed that a petition bordering on cyberbullying and character assassination cannot override or invalidate an ongoing or concluded homicide investigation, noting that both matters are distinct and treated separately under the law.
The group added that RULAAC’s call on police leadership to halt any alleged interference with the murder case was based on erroneous assumptions and lacked a factual foundation.
In its statement, IYA urged advocacy groups and media organisations to exercise restraint and ensure accuracy in their public commentary, warning that unfounded allegations could erode public confidence in law enforcement.
