In Nigeria a country often shaken by reports of corruption, one immigration officer is being hailed as a national hero for choosing principle over personal gain.
Officer Prince Orji Ugochukwu has garnered widespread praise after refusing a bribe worth ₦10 million and an iPhone 13 from a fleeing suspect, Obieze, who was apprehended at a land border while attempting to escape the country on a motorcycle.
According to reports, Obieze made the desperate offer in a bid to secure his release, but Officer Ugochukwu remained steadfast.
His refusal has drawn admiration across social media and in public discourse, seen as a rare act of integrity in a system too often riddled with compromise.
While under interrogation, Obieze claimed his arrest was politically motivated. “It’s a political issue,” he said.
“Fabrication against me because I will be the next king, and some people in my village don’t want me to be that next king. So, they are painting evil against me, front and back, so that I can fall.”
Despite the suspect’s claims, what’s clear is that Officer Ugochukwu’s conduct has become a shining example of law enforcement professionalism.
Citizens and civil society groups have called for his commendation, urging others in uniform to emulate his dedication to justice.
In a nation yearning for accountability and trust in its institutions, Officer Ugochukwu’s actions are more than commendable they are a call to duty.
