BBC Awards Nigerian Police Officer Who Has Never Taken Bribe

A Nigerian Policeman has been seen to stand out among his peers despite the 2017 survey by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) which identified officers of the Nigeria police force to be among the most corrupt public officials in the country, mostly due to bribery.

Julius Adedeji is said to have never taken a bribe, not because he has never been offered but because it is “needless” for him. Thus the BBC is celebrating him as the most dedicated police officer.

In an Interview, Adedeji told BBC that he never saw the award coming becuase he did not know he was being monitored.

“I thank God that it’s recognised and I feel like putting my best more and more,” he said.

“A copy of the letter (from the BBC) was delivered to my office for my information, when I read through it, I was wondering could it be true? I read through the letter and I saw that it said, they wanted an institution where they can name and shame those that are not doing well and encourage the people that are doing well within the Nigerian police force, I felt so great.”

Asked if he has ever been offered money in the form of bribe, he said: “Absolutely. And even today a person offered to give me some money and I said ‘no,no,no,no why would you do that, I’m just doing my work’.”

“There’s no way one would not once in a while be tempted,” he said, adding: “But I just want to do what is right,” he continued.

“I know in my little space where I work, I’ve seen people who are going the wrong way. We’ve talked to them and told them you don’t have to do this and God will find a way to bless you when you’re doing what is right.”