The police suspects, Photo credit: Research gate
By Abdullahi Abubakar
Four policemen from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have been arrested for allegedly extorting ₦53,000 from the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Aliyu (SAN), during an unauthorised stop-and-search operation in Abuja.
This much was revealed by the FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi on Monday.
The CP who briefed journalists at the FCT command said the officers have been taken into custody and are undergoing disciplinary procedures over the incident.
According to the commissioner, preliminary investigations indicate that the officers allegedly abandoned their assigned duty posts, converged around the Banex area in Wuse, and set up an illegal checkpoint where they reportedly extorted money from motorists.
Sanusi alleged that the officers stopped Dr. Aliyu without recognising him and compelled him to withdraw ₦53,000 through a Point of Sale (POS) terminal, in addition to paying the associated transaction charges, before allegedly sharing the money among themselves.
He described the officers’ actions as criminal and inconsistent with the standards expected of members of the Nigeria Police Force, adding that they would face appropriate disciplinary measures if found culpable.
The police commissioner said the command launched an investigation immediately after the incident came to its attention. He explained that the officers were declared wanted, while the arrest of the alleged gang leader subsequently led investigators to the other suspects.
Sanusi assured that the command would ensure all those found responsible are sanctioned in accordance with police regulations, including dismissal where applicable.
The commissioner also reiterated the directive of the Inspector-General of Police prohibiting officers on patrol from conducting indiscriminate searches of citizens’ mobile phones.
He advised members of the public not to submit to unlawful demands for roadside phone searches and urged anyone confronted with such requests to report the officers through the police emergency lines or other official complaint channels.
Sanusi further encouraged residents to promptly report incidents of extortion, harassment and other forms of police misconduct, assuring that the command remains committed to identifying erring officers and holding them accountable.
A subsequent statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Josephine Adeh, identified the suspects as ASP Clement Ehigala, ASP Sunday Okpe, Inspector Samuel Onoja, and Sergeant Yakubu Emmanuel.
