In a recent social media post, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Olumuyiwa Adejobi, ignited controversy after sharing a photo of a female police officer, DSP David Victoria, holding an expensive phone and wearing a luxury wristwatch.
The post aimed to highlight the beauty and intelligence of officers within the force, but it sparked a wave of criticism and questions regarding the officer’s finances.
On the microblogging platform X (formerly known as Twitter), Adejobi posted the photo of DSP David Victoria, who serves as the Secretary to the Inspector General of Police (IGP). In his tweet, Adejobi wrote, “We have beautiful and intelligent ones in the force. This is DSP David Victoria, Secretary to the IGP. Happy weekend.”
However, this seemingly innocent post quickly drew fire from some social media users who questioned how a police officer could afford such luxury items on their salary. They inquired about the officer’s income, insinuating that her salary would not be sufficient to purchase an expensive cellphone and a high-end wristwatch.
A cursory investigation revealed that the price of the phone in the photo, a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2, ranges from 70,000 to 750,000 naira. These findings further fueled the controversy, with users requesting that Victoria’s financial statements be made public to track her sources of income, arguing that her salary alone would not cover such extravagant expenses.
In response to the criticism, Adejobi defended the officer and the force, asserting that it was unreasonable for Nigerians to assume that police officers could not afford expensive smartphones. He urged netizens to approach such matters with objectivity and fairness when questioning the financial capabilities of police officers.
The incident has sparked a broader conversation about transparency in the finances of public servants in Nigeria and raises questions about the expectations and perceptions surrounding police officers’ incomes. As the controversy continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether any further actions or clarifications will be taken by the Nigeria Police Force or its spokesperson.