Four Police Officers Detained for Allegedly Extorting ICPC Chairman of N53,000

Four Federal Capital Territory police officers have been arrested for allegedly extorting N53,000 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.

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The Federal Capital Territory Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, disclosed this on Monday while addressing newsmen, describing the officers as criminals who had no place in the Nigeria Police Force.

Sanusi said the officers abandoned their official duty posts and mounted an unauthorised checkpoint around the Banex area in Wuse, where they allegedly intercepted the ICPC chairman without knowing his identity.

According to the police commissioner, the officers compelled Aliyu to withdraw N53,000 through a Point of Sale operator, pay the transaction charges, and then shared the money among themselves.

He said, “The officers extorted the Chairman of the ICPC of N53,000. They took him to a POS outlet, where he withdrew the money, paid the transaction charges, and they shared the proceeds.”

Sanusi explained that investigations revealed the officers had formed a criminal gang after leaving their various divisions to operate the illegal checkpoint for extortion.

He disclosed that the command declared the officers wanted before arresting their gang leader, whose confession led to the apprehension of the remaining members of the syndicate.

“We have arrested all of them. They will face severe disciplinary measures, and those found deserving of dismissal will be dismissed from the Force,” he said.

The commissioner also reiterated that the Inspector-General of Police had prohibited officers from searching citizens' mobile phones during patrols or stop-and-search operations.

He advised residents to reject unlawful demands by policemen to inspect their phones and immediately report such incidents through the police emergency lines.

Sanusi assured the public that the command would continue to enforce the directive against extortion and other forms of misconduct, warning that any officer found violating the law would be sanctioned accordingly.

He urged residents to promptly report cases of extortion and abuse of office, stressing that the command remained committed to identifying and punishing erring officers to restore public confidence in the police.