Four Police Officers Face Trial for Allegedly Extorting ₦53,000 from ICPC Chairman in Abuja
Four police officers attached to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have been arrested and are facing disciplinary proceedings for allegedly extorting ₦53,000 from the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Aliyu, at an illegal checkpoint in Abuja.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Mohammed Sanusi, disclosed the development while addressing journalists on Monday in Abuja, revealing that the officers had been taken into custody and would face an orderly room trial.
According to the police commissioner, the officers mounted an unauthorized checkpoint where they stopped and extorted the ICPC chairman without realizing his identity. He described the incident as unacceptable, stressing that the command would not tolerate misconduct or corruption among its personnel.
“We have about four policemen in custody as we speak who tried, not just tried, but successfully extorted somebody of high importance, unknown to them. In fact, they extorted the Chairman of the ICPC,” Sanusi said.
The commissioner added that the officers would be subjected to an orderly room trial and warned that any officer found engaging in criminal activities would face severe sanctions, including possible dismissal from the Nigeria Police Force.
Sanusi emphasized that police officers must choose between serving as law enforcement officers or engaging in criminal acts, insisting that the command would continue its crackdown on corruption and extortion within its ranks.
The incident has sparked renewed concerns over illegal checkpoints and extortion by some police officers, with many Nigerians calling for stronger disciplinary measures to restore public confidence in the Nigeria Police Force.
