The Rise and Fall of Fidelis Oyakhilome

Rtd DIG, Fidelis Oyakhilome

Police man Fidelis Oyakhilome appeared destined for bigger things. A barrister at Law and crime buster. He was rewarded handsomely with an appointment by the Buhari Junta in January 1984 as Governor of Oil Rich, Rivers State.

In Rivers State, as Military Governor, he drew attention to himself with his highly acclaimed School to land program that boosted Agricultural Production in Rivers State.

Not done yet, on the back of that highly successful program, IBB struck. 

Fidelis Oyakhilome who retired from the Police as Deputy Inspector General of Police, was named Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency. 

As pioneer Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, much was expected from the brilliant Policeman who spearheaded an agricultural boost in Rivers State using young School Leavers. His reputation as a crime buster further heightened expectations.

Fighting Drug smuggling, made his stock rise rapidly rising until tragedy struck. What started like a nollywood movie, put paid to the fame of the handsome barrister and crime fighter.

The scourge of men since creation was his undoing. A drug baron, Greg Odilibe was declared wanted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in a newspaper advertisement. But what followed the celebration was more than headline News. It was an embarrassment to the IBB regime. 

The Drug baron through his people, wondered why Oyakhilome was hounding him after collecting a bribe from him, through Jennifer Madike, a society lady, now late. 

The bribe, N800,000, was delivered to Oyakhilome through Jennifer Madike. The Late Jennifer was in the big league and travelled on a very fast lane. 

                                    Late Jennifer Madike

The bribery was investigated but never proved but what was clear, was that unknown to the public, the good looking crime fighter was was very close to the lady. While Oyakhilome did not deny knowing Jennifer, he in fact claimed Jennifer was brought to him by her parents for him to Forster her as a parent. Though married, her marriage was then falling apart.

After Jennifer was arrested and detained, she filed a suit in court challenging her arrest, making telling allegations against Fidelis Oyakhilome. Several correspondences were released between the duo with endearments from Oyakhilome, bordering on the amorous but Oyakhilome dismissed them all as ordinary.

In the end, the IBB regime had a decision to make and Fidelis Oyakhilome was dismissed through a public announcement on Television and pronto a career was terminated. Fidelis Oyakhilome fell from his Olympian height in disgrace.