Four Police Officers Taken Into Custody For Alleged Extortion In Lagos, IGP Orders Investigation, Officers Removed From Frontline Duties

Following a 17th August, 2017 viral social media post in which a citizen alleged thus “two officers one named Mathew Olasiji olaadujoye and Oba Roland stationed along Ogudu road today pulled me over and asked for my cell phone…I refused to hand it over cuz I felt it was infringement of my privacy…but it was forcefully taken and my messages were viewed along with my account details and other private areas in fone and I was extorted for 100000 naira the excuse for this was cuz he saw in my google app that I had more than one gmail log in…so I was tagged a yahoo boy…I was detained for 4 hours…and my car keys taken from me…I wasn’t released until I transferred to Mathew’s account a total of 15,000…”

The Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU) immediately registered the case and ticket number PCRRU972905 was issued. The author of the post (name withheld) was contacted and a meeting between him and PCRRU investigators took place at the Force Headquarters Annex, Moloney Street, Lagos on Monday 21st August, 2017. The police officers involved – two Inspectors and two Sergeants attached to Ogudu Divison, Lagos state have been identified and removed from duty that involves any form of contact with members of the public pending the conclusion of a detailed investigation.

PCRRU preliminary investigation shows that the policemen on the 16th of August, 2017 at about 11:00am intercepted the complainant along Ogudu road and in the course of their interaction went beyond their mandate by going through the contents of the complainant’s mobile phone.  Bank statement of account confirms that the complainant following the orders of one of the officers transferred the sum of fifteen thousand naira (N15,000) into the account of a third party (name withheld).

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris NPM, mni has directed the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2 Lagos to carry out a detailed investigation into this alleged misconduct and appropriate disciplinary action taken against anyone found to have erred. All four policemen and bank statement of account have been handed over to the AIG Zone 2 today by PCRRU investigators for the required action.

Members of the public are once again reminded that the PCRRU is open 24/7 to receive and resolve all complaints relating to issues of police misconduct from across the country. The channels to use are Calls Only: 08057000001, 08057000002 | SMS and WhatsApp Only: 08057000003 | BBM:58A2B5DE | Twitter: @PoliceNG_PCRRU | Facebook: www.facebook.com/PolicePCRRU | Email: [email protected] OR [email protected]

Trust me; our quick response will put a smile on your face. PCRRU says No To Impunity.

ACP ABAYOMI SHOGUNLE.

ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF POLICE,

PUBLIC COMPLAINT RAPID RESPONSE UNIT (PCRRU),

NIGERIA POLICE FORCE, FORCE HEADQUARTERS,

ABUJA.