Four Police Officers Detained Over Alleged N53,000 Extortion Of ICPC Chairman In Abuja
Four police officers have been detained by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command over allegations that they extorted N53,000 from the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Aliyu (SAN), during an illegal stop-and-search operation in Abuja.
FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, disclosed the incident while briefing journalists on Monday, describing the officers as unfit to wear the police uniform.
According to Sanusi, the officers abandoned their assigned duty posts and set up an unauthorized checkpoint around the Banex area of Wuse, where they allegedly stopped and extorted the ICPC chairman without realizing who he was.
He said the ICPC boss was compelled to withdraw N53,000 through a Point of Sale (POS) operator, paid the transaction charges, and the officers allegedly shared the money among themselves.
Investigations revealed that the suspects had allegedly formed a criminal gang, left their respective duty stations, and mounted the illegal checkpoint to extort motorists.
The police commissioner said the command declared the officers wanted before arresting their alleged gang leader, whose confession led to the arrest of the remaining members.
Sanusi assured that the officers would face disciplinary measures, including dismissal where appropriate, stressing that the command would not tolerate misconduct within its ranks.
He also reiterated that the Inspector-General of Police has prohibited officers from conducting indiscriminate searches of citizens' mobile phones during patrols.
The commissioner advised residents to refuse unlawful requests by officers to inspect their phones and to immediately report such incidents through the police emergency lines.
He further urged members of the public to report cases of extortion and other forms of police misconduct, assuring that any officer found guilty would be sanctioned in accordance with the law.
FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, disclosed the incident while briefing journalists on Monday, describing the officers as unfit to wear the police uniform.
According to Sanusi, the officers abandoned their assigned duty posts and set up an unauthorized checkpoint around the Banex area of Wuse, where they allegedly stopped and extorted the ICPC chairman without realizing who he was.
He said the ICPC boss was compelled to withdraw N53,000 through a Point of Sale (POS) operator, paid the transaction charges, and the officers allegedly shared the money among themselves.
Investigations revealed that the suspects had allegedly formed a criminal gang, left their respective duty stations, and mounted the illegal checkpoint to extort motorists.
The police commissioner said the command declared the officers wanted before arresting their alleged gang leader, whose confession led to the arrest of the remaining members.
Sanusi assured that the officers would face disciplinary measures, including dismissal where appropriate, stressing that the command would not tolerate misconduct within its ranks.
He also reiterated that the Inspector-General of Police has prohibited officers from conducting indiscriminate searches of citizens' mobile phones during patrols.
The commissioner advised residents to refuse unlawful requests by officers to inspect their phones and to immediately report such incidents through the police emergency lines.
He further urged members of the public to report cases of extortion and other forms of police misconduct, assuring that any officer found guilty would be sanctioned in accordance with the law.
