A civil society organization, the Justice and Peace for Good Governance Initiative, has raised alarm over what it described as sustained defamatory attacks against a senior police officer, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Nkeiruka Nwode, by an online media outlet.
In a press statement released on Saturday, the group expressed “deep concern and dismay” over what it called unwarranted and malicious reporting targeting the officer, whom it praised for her professionalism and dedication to duty.
The statement was signed by the organization’s Spokesperson, Mr Okechukwu Igwe.
According to the statement, CSP Nwode has, in recent weeks, been subjected to “defamation, ridicule, and misrepresentation” by the media organization, despite what the group says is clear evidence exonerating her from allegations linked to a 2023 incident.
The controversy stems from a case involving a former National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Nnamdi Emeh, who reportedly served at the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Awkuzu.
Emeh was accused of siphoning millions of naira from the account of a detained suspect and is currently facing trial, including charges of defamation against several police officers, among them CSP Nwode.
The group emphasized that CSP Nwode was not posted to RRS Awkuzu at the time of the incident and had never served at the facility.
“Instead, she was working as a Zonal Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), where she was noted for upholding standards of professionalism and accountability.
“Her involvement in the matter, the statement explained, began only after the family of the detained suspect contacted her through legal representation for assistance.
Upon learning of the alleged financial misconduct, she reportedly called for a thorough investigation to recover the funds and protect the integrity of the police institution”, the statement said.
The organization further claimed that the victim’s family and their lawyer have publicly corroborated this account in video statements, clearing CSP Nwode of wrongdoing.
It also pointed to what it described as contradictions in the reporting by the media outlet, noting that even in one of its own reports, the platform acknowledged that Nigeria Police Force investigation report found no evidence linking CSP Nwode to serious allegations such as organ harvesting, murder, financial crimes, or extrajudicial killings.
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“This raises serious questions about the motive behind the continued media attacks,” the group stated.
The statement also criticized the media organization for allegedly failing to adhere to basic journalistic ethics, particularly by not seeking CSP Nwode’s response before publishing the reports.
The group called on the media outlet to immediately cease what it described as defamatory publications and urged adherence to principles of fairness and balanced reporting.
CSP Nwode was recently recognized as Policewoman of the Year 2025 at the 7th Police Excellence Awards, an achievement the group cited as evidence of her distinguished service.
The organization concluded by urging the public to disregard what it termed misleading narratives and to support officers committed to professionalism, justice, and accountability.
