Four police officers attached to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command are facing disciplinary action after allegedly extorting N53,000 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.
The shocking incident, which has sparked fresh concerns over police misconduct, was disclosed on Monday by the FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, while addressing journalists in the nation’s capital.
Sanusi did not mince words as he condemned the officers, describing them as criminals who had no justification for wearing the police uniform. According to him, the officers abandoned their assigned duty posts, gathered around the busy Banex area in Wuse, and illegally established a checkpoint where they preyed on unsuspecting members of the public.
Unaware that their victim was the chairman of Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, the officers allegedly forced Dr. Aliyu to withdraw N53,000 through a Point of Sale (POS) operator. Beyond collecting the money, they reportedly compelled him to bear the transaction charges before sharing the proceeds among themselves.
Recounting the incident, Sanusi said the officers carried out the operation with remarkable confidence, apparently believing they could escape accountability.
“We currently have four policemen in custody who successfully extorted a highly placed individual without knowing who he was. In clear terms, they extorted the Chairman of the ICPC,” the commissioner said.
According to him, investigations revealed that the officers had effectively turned themselves into a criminal syndicate. Rather than remaining at their designated stations, they allegedly left their various divisions, converged in Wuse, and created an illegal checkpoint for extortion purposes.
“They are a gang of criminals who left various divisions, clustered together, moved to Wuse Banex and created a checkpoint where they perpetrated this act before fleeing,” Sanusi stated.
The commissioner explained that after the incident came to light, the command launched a manhunt for the suspects. Their alleged gang leader was eventually arrested, and his confession reportedly led investigators to the remaining members of the group.
“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,” he assured.
The case has once again brought the issue of police extortion and abuse of authority into the spotlight, with many Nigerians expressing concern over the persistence of such practices despite repeated reforms and directives from police authorities.
Sanusi used the occasion to reiterate a standing directive from the Inspector-General of Police prohibiting officers from conducting indiscriminate searches of citizens’ mobile phones during patrols or roadside operations.
He warned residents not to submit to unlawful requests by officers seeking to inspect their phones without legal justification and encouraged victims to immediately contact police emergency lines whenever such incidents occur.
“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.
The police chief also urged members of the public to promptly report cases of extortion, harassment, and other forms of misconduct, assuring citizens that the command would continue to identify, investigate, and punish officers who abuse their powers.
The latest scandal is particularly significant because the alleged victim is the head of Nigeria’s foremost anti-corruption agency. Analysts say the incident underscores a troubling reality: if a senior public official can allegedly be extorted in broad daylight, ordinary citizens may be even more vulnerable to similar abuses.
As investigations continue, attention is now focused on the disciplinary measures that will be taken against the officers and whether the case will serve as a turning point in the fight against corruption and misconduct within the ranks of the police force.
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