The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested four police officers accused of extorting ₦53,000 from the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Aliyu (SAN), at an illegal checkpoint in Abuja.
The officers, who reportedly did not know the identity of their victim, allegedly forced Aliyu to withdraw the money from a nearby Point of Sale (POS) operator before sharing the proceeds among themselves.
FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, disclosed the incident while briefing journalists in Abuja on Monday, describing the officers as criminals whose actions have no place in the Nigeria Police Force.
According to the commissioner, the suspects abandoned their official duty posts and assembled around the Banex area in Wuse, where they mounted an unauthorized stop-and-search checkpoint to extort motorists.
Sanusi said the ICPC chairman became one of their victims after they intercepted him and demanded money.
“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.
He explained that investigations revealed the officers had formed an extortion syndicate, operating outside their assigned responsibilities to prey on unsuspecting road users.
Following complaints, the command declared the suspects wanted before arresting the alleged ringleader, whose confession led investigators to the other three officers.
“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,” Sanusi stated.
The commissioner also reminded the public that police officers are prohibited from stopping citizens to search their mobile phones during routine patrols, stressing that such conduct violates directives issued by the Inspector-General of Police.
“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.
Sanusi assured residents of the FCT that the command would continue to identify, investigate and sanction officers involved in extortion, illegal checkpoints and other forms of misconduct, emphasizing that corrupt practices would not be tolerated within the police force.
