Four officers of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command have been arrested for allegedly extorting N53,000 from the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr Musa Aliyu (SAN). The incident occurred during an unauthorised stop-and-search exercise in Abuja.
Police Condemn Officers as 'Thieves'
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Monday, July 20, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, strongly condemned the officers, describing them as “thieves” who had disgraced the police force through their actions. He stated that the command would ensure they face severe punishment.
Illegal Checkpoint and Extortion Details
Investigations by the police revealed that the officers allegedly abandoned their assigned duty posts and converged around the Banex area of Wuse, where they erected an illegal checkpoint. They targeted motorists for extortion, unaware that their victim was the ICPC chairman. According to Sanusi, Aliyu was stopped and compelled to obtain cash through a Point of Sale (POS) operator. He withdrew N53,000, paid the transaction charges, and handed over the money, which the officers allegedly shared among themselves.
Arrests and Confession
The police boss disclosed that the command declared the officers wanted before tracking down their leader. His confession led investigators to the remaining members of the group. Sanusi said, “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.”
IGP's Directive on Phone Searches
The commissioner also reminded officers and members of the public that the Inspector-General of Police had outlawed the indiscriminate search 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. We will still enforce the IG’s directive. Some of them are on the task because they are criminally minded. They want to perpetrate such acts. If we get them, they will face disciplinary actions and will be made to face the consequences.”
