Ex-AIG Abduyari Lafia accused IGP Egbetokun of shielding a rape suspect and obstructing justice in the case of American citizen Malory Henry, prompting fresh calls to reopen the withdrawn trial.
Former Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Abduyari S. Lafia has accused Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun of obstructing justice in a rape case involving an American citizen and an Indian national.
In a letter to U.S. Ambassador Richard M. Mills, Lafia alleged that Egbetokun intervened to shield Kumar Gaurav, an Olam Rice Nigeria staff, who was accused of drugging and raping Miss Malory Henry in Makurdi on March 30, 2023. “This development which aided the Defendant in evading justice is not only a sad commentary on our criminal justice system but a pointer to the impunity in which IGP Kayode Egbetokun runs the Police Force,” Lafia wrote.
Despite medical evidence indicating drug-facilitated rape, the police withdrew the case in July 2024 on IGP’s directive, leading to Gaurav’s acquittal. Lafia alleged he and other officers were victimised for resisting bribes. Meanwhile, Henry’s lawyers have petitioned the Benue Attorney General, urging the case’s reopening.