The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has ordered the dismissal of four
police officers found guilty of extorting
money from members of the police.
According to a statement released today by
the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Public
Complaint Rapid Response Unit(PCRRU),
Abayomi Shogunle, the affected police
officers attached to the Ijebu-Ode area
command in Ogun state are;
(1) AP. No 122800 Inspr. Mufutau Olaosun,
(2) F/No. 366127 Sgt. Adebayo Temitope,
(3) F/No. 455593 Cpl. Bakare Taiwo and (4)
F/No. 455554 Cpl. Adesoye Ayokunlehin.
They were charged, tried and found guilty
in an Orderly Room conducted at the Area
Command Headquarters, Ijebu-Ode for two
offences against discipline as provided for
in Paragraphs E (iii) Discreditable Conduct
and C (ii) Corrupt Practice under the First
Schedule of Police Act and Regulations Cap.
P19. Laws of the Federation of Nigeria
2004.
According to the statement, on the 12th of
June, 2017 the Public Complaint Rapid
Response Unit (PCRRU) received a
complaint via WhatsApp number 0805 700
0003 which states thus; “Good morning sir,
My name is (Withheld), living in ijebu ode,
on Wednesday afternoon I went to
withdraw money from the bank and am
been sent by my boss when going back to
the office some policeman car just double
cross me and collect my phone telling I
stole the phone I should follow the to the
station and the took me to igbeba police
station here in ijebu asked me to do frog
jump from outside to a room, which I did
to afford being beating. After gotten there
they started calling a internet fraudster
which I told them am not that am an
(withheld) and they started beating
slapping me and forcing me to write a
statement which they are the one telling
me what to write and after that they
collected 50,000 from me( from my boss
money which I went to withdraw before
ealizing me. Sir that’s my story. All this are
not good and policeman are meant to
protect us but this nowadays police officer
have turn this to another thing by using
their power to ride civilians, maltreating
and harassing civilian. The officers name
who headed the squad are been called
which I overhead are name: one is Omo
Alaja while the second is called AY but don’t
know the name of the other 2 officer.
Please sir you have to stop this kind of
officer because they are taking this to far”
The complaint was immediately registered,
Tracking Number #PCRRU451591issued
and investigation initiated. The Divisional
Police Officer (DPO) Igbeba Division, Ijebu-
Ode was mandated to commence an
enquiry straightaway. The policemen were
identified and it was discovered that they
apprehended the complainant on 7th June,
2017 without any reasonable cause and
extorted the sum of Fifty Thousand Naira
(N50,000) “Bail Money” despite the #
BailisFreecampaign before he was
eventually released same day. The extorted
N50,000 was subsequently recovered from
these unethical policemen who were
armed in plain clothes on the day of the
incident. Their action is contrary to the
directives of the Inspector-General of Police
and unacceptable. According to the
statement, necessary disciplinary measures
were initiated against the erring policemen.
They were found guilty as charged in an
Orderly Room trial after the presentation of
witnesses and exhibits. Punishment of
dismissal from service was recommended
by the Adjudicating officer and
proceedings reviewed by the relevant
Nigeria Police Force (NPF) authorities. The
punishment of dismissal from service has
been upheld with immediate effect and all
NPF uniforms and accouterments including
warrant cards (ID cards) issued to the men
have been retrieved with all dismissal
procedures completed. The complainant
was also handed back his N50,000 with an
apology a day after he lodged the
complaint.
The elated man after receiving his money
thanked the PCRRU, he said “Great job you
people are doing right there, thank you for
the prompt response”.