JUST IN: Police arrest four officers for extorting ICPC Chairman

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arrested four police officers accused of extorting N53,000 from the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Dr Musa Aliyu, SAN, during an illegal stop and search operation in Abuja.

The incident occurred around the Banex area of Wuse, Abuja, where the officers allegedly abandoned their official duty locations and mounted an unauthorised checkpoint where they stopped motorists and demanded money from them.

The FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Sanusi, disclosed the arrest on Monday while addressing journalists in Abuja, describing the officers involved as criminals who had no place in the Nigeria Police Force.

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According to the police commissioner, the officers were unaware that their victim was the chairman of the nation’s anti corruption agency when they stopped him and allegedly forced him to part with money before allowing him to continue his journey.

Sanusi explained that the policemen took Dr Musa Aliyu to a Point of Sale operator where he was compelled to withdraw N53,000, including payment for transaction charges, before the officers shared the money among themselves.

The commissioner said the incident exposed the activities of some rogue officers who misuse their authority by turning security operations into avenues for extortion and personal enrichment.

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He stated that investigations revealed that the officers were not acting under any authorised police operation but had allegedly formed a group that moved away from their assigned duty posts to create an illegal checkpoint around Wuse Banex.

“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 said.

The police commissioner assured Nigerians that the officers would face disciplinary action and possible prosecution after investigations are concluded, stressing that the command would not tolerate misconduct capable of damaging public confidence in the police.

The arrest comes amid renewed concerns over allegations of extortion by some security personnel, particularly through illegal checkpoints and unauthorised searches, with authorities repeatedly warning officers against such practices.

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The incident has also drawn attention because the victim of the alleged extortion was the head of the ICPC, an agency established to fight corruption and other related offences in Nigeria.

The FCT Police Command urged members of the public to report cases of police misconduct, promising that officers found guilty of abusing their positions would be sanctioned according to the law.

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