The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arrested four police officers for allegedly extorting ₦53,000 from the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Dr Musa Aliyu (SAN), during an illegal stop-and-search operation in Abuja.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists, describing the officers as “criminals” who had no place in the Nigeria Police Force.
According to Sanusi, the officers abandoned their official duty posts, converged around the Banex area of Wuse and mounted an unauthorised checkpoint where they stopped and extorted motorists, including the ICPC chairman, without knowing his identity.
He said the officers compelled Aliyu to withdraw ₦53,000 through a Point of Sale operator, pay the transaction charges and then shared the money among themselves.
“They extorted the Chairman of the ICPC of ₦53,000. They took him to a POS, he withdrew the money, paid the charges and they shared the money among themselves,” the commissioner said.
Sanusi explained that investigations revealed the officers had formed an extortion syndicate after leaving their various duty posts to carry out the illegal operation.
The command subsequently declared the suspects wanted before arresting the gang leader, whose confession led to the arrest of the remaining members.
“We got all of them. We are going to make sure they are severely punished. Those that are going to be dismissed will definitely be dismissed,” he said.
The commissioner also reiterated the Inspector-General of Police’s directive prohibiting officers from indiscriminately searching citizens’ mobile phones during patrols.
He urged residents to reject unlawful requests to inspect their phones and immediately report such incidents through the police emergency lines.
“You cannot stop anybody on the road and ask the person to bring out his phone for search. If any policeman stops you and asks to search your phone, don’t agree. Call the police emergency lines and we will ask them why,” Sanusi said.
He assured the public that the command would continue to investigate and sanction officers involved in extortion and other forms of misconduct.
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