Police deny political bias, say Peter Obi video was doctored

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has dismissed as false and misleading a viral video circulating on social media showing some police officers being addressed by Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 general elections, insisting that the footage was deliberately altered to portray a non-existent political endorsement by officers of the Nigeria Police Force.

In a statement issued by Josephine Adeh, Command’s spokesperson, the police said the original video was recorded in 2024 during a routine security operation at the Labour Party headquarters in Utako, Abuja, following reports of unrest arising from a leadership dispute within the party.

According to the Command, police personnel were deployed after receiving a distress call over protests linked to the internal crisis at the party’s national secretariat.

The police explained that Obi, who was present at the scene, briefly addressed the officers solely to explain the circumstances surrounding the dispute.

It stressed that the interaction was incidental to the police operation and did not amount to any political engagement or endorsement.

The Command accused those behind the viral clip of digitally altering the original footage by inserting campaign posters and captions to create what it described as a “mischievous and false narrative.”

It maintained that the Nigeria Police Force remains a neutral institution with no partisan affiliation and warned against attempts to exploit its personnel or operational activities for political propaganda.

Ahmed Sanusi, Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, has directed a comprehensive investigation into the source of the manipulated video.

The police urged Nigerians to refrain from producing or sharing misleading content capable of deceiving the public or eroding confidence in public institutions.

It also advised citizens to verify information through official channels before circulating it.

In another department, the Command secured the conviction of Jonathan Marcus, a former driver to an elderly Abuja couple, for the murder of his former employers, 80-year-old Adebola Ezekiel and his wife, Abiodun Ezekiel.

The judgment was delivered by Muhammad Idris, Justice of the FCT High Court, who sentenced Marcus to death by hanging after finding him guilty of the double murder.

According to the police, the victims were murdered at their residence in Zone D, Apo Legislative Quarters, Abuja, on April 1, 2024.

The Command said an extensive investigation led detectives to Obajana in Kogi State, where Marcus had allegedly fled after committing the crime.

He was arrested and brought back to Abuja for investigation.

Police disclosed that during interrogation, the convict confessed to entering the couple’s residence at about 11 p.m. on the night of the attack before killing both victims.

Investigators also established that Marcus had previously worked as the couple’s driver but was dismissed following repeated disagreements with his employers.

Following the conclusion of investigations, the suspect was arraigned before the FCT High Court, where prosecutors presented evidence linking him to the crime.

After reviewing the evidence and hearing arguments from both sides, Idris held that the prosecution had established its case beyond reasonable doubt and convicted Marcus.

The FCT Police Command described the judgment as a demonstration of its commitment to ensuring that offenders are brought to justice and reassured residents of its resolve to continue protecting lives and property across the Federal Capital Territory.