Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has detained four police officers accused of extorting N53,000 from the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Dr Musa Aliyu (SAN), during an unauthorised stop-and-search operation in Abuja.
Speaking to journalists on Monday, FCT Commissioner of Police Ahmed Sanusi said the officers allegedly stopped the ICPC chairman around the Banex area of Wuse without knowing his identity and compelled him to withdraw cash through a Point of Sale operator.
According to Sanusi, the victim withdrew N53,000, paid the transaction charges and handed over the money, which the officers allegedly shared among themselves.
“I must say here too that we have about four policemen in custody as we speak who successfully extorted somebody of high importance, unknown to them that this person is a highly placed person in society. In clear terms, they extorted the Chairman of the ICPC.
“They extorted him of N53,000. They took him to a POS, he withdrew the money, paid the charges and they shared the money among themselves,” he said.
The commissioner said investigations showed that the officers abandoned their assigned duty posts, teamed up and mounted an illegal checkpoint in the area where they allegedly carried out the extortion.
He said the command declared the suspects wanted before arresting the alleged gang leader, whose confession led investigators to the remaining members of the group.
“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 added.
Sanusi also reiterated the Inspector-General of Police’s directive prohibiting officers from conducting indiscriminate searches of citizens’ mobile phones during patrols.
“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,” he said.
He urged residents to promptly report extortion and other forms of police misconduct, assuring that officers found culpable would face disciplinary measures and other sanctions.
