The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested and detained four police officers for allegedly extorting ₦53,000 from the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Aliyu (SAN), after mounting an illegal checkpoint in Abuja.
The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Ahmed Sanusi, disclosed the development on Monday while briefing journalists in Abuja.
According to the police commissioner, the officers abandoned their assigned duty posts and converged around the Banex area of Wuse, where they allegedly set up an unauthorised checkpoint and extorted the ICPC chairman without knowing his identity.
Sanusi said the officers forced Dr. Aliyu to withdraw ₦53,000 through a Point of Sale (POS) operator, made him pay the transaction charges, and later shared the money among themselves.
“I must also mention that we currently have four policemen in custody who successfully extorted someone of high importance without knowing he was a highly placed public official. In clear terms, they extorted the Chairman of the ICPC of ₦53,000. They took him to a POS, where he withdrew the money, paid the charges, and they shared the proceeds among themselves,” the police commissioner said.
Describing the suspects as “a gang of criminals,” Sanusi said they left their respective divisions, assembled around the Wuse Banex area, mounted an illegal checkpoint, carried out the extortion, and fled the scene.
He said the command declared the officers wanted before arresting the gang leader, whose confession led investigators to the remaining members of the syndicate.
“We got all of them. We are going to ensure they are severely punished. Those who deserve dismissal will definitely be dismissed,” he said.
The FCT Police Command said the officers remain in custody and will face disciplinary procedures in line with the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to professionalism, accountability and zero tolerance for misconduct.
