The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has confirmed the arrest of four of its personnel following an alleged extortion incident involving the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Musa Aliyu. Commissioner of Police Ahmed Sanusi disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja on Monday.
Details of the Extortion
According to CP Sanusi, the four officers successfully extorted N53,000 from the ICPC chairman, unaware of his identity. “They extorted the chairman of ICPC,” Sanusi stated. The officers set up an illegal checkpoint in the Banex area, outside their official duty post, and demanded money from Aliyu, who complied by sending the funds via a Point of Sale (POS) terminal. The suspects then withdrew the cash and shared it among themselves.
The commissioner emphasized that the victims should report such incidents promptly. “If you keep quiet out of fear of intimidation, out of fear of further harassment, you will be undoing yourself. If you tell us it will stop that fear, it will stop that intimidation,” he said.
Investigation and Punishment
Sanusi confirmed that the four suspects are in custody and facing disciplinary action. “When they finish trying them, we will bring them here so that you can see the thieves. I have made it clear here that you have to choose to be either a policeman or a thief. You cannot be the two at the same time, so you must choose one,” he declared. He assured that those found guilty would face severe punishment, including dismissal from the force.
The arrests were made possible after the ICPC chairman reported the incident. Sanusi urged the public to report any misconduct by police officers, promising that the command would investigate and apprehend offenders.
Ban on Phone Searches
During the briefing, CP Sanusi also reiterated that police officers are prohibited from searching citizens’ phones during routine stops or arrests on the road. He noted that such searches had been banned due to widespread abuse by officers and personnel from other security agencies. “It has been instructed that nobody should search any phone, especially when you just arrest somebody on the road, because you suspect the person to be a ‘yahoo yahoo’ or so,” he explained.
Sanusi clarified that phone searches are only permissible after a proper arrest and when the suspect has been brought to a police station, and only if there is evidence linking the phone to a crime. “Before such a thing can happen, the person must have committed the crime, been properly arrested, and brought to the station,” he added.
