By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The Federal Capital Territory FCT police authorities have vowed to deal decisively with four of its officers who extorted the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, Dr Musa Aliyu at an unauthorized Abuja check point.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Sanusi, on Monday, at an interactive session with the media informed that the affected officers who have all been rounded up and detained had abandoned their legitimate duty posts, mounted an illegal check point around Banex area of Wuse District and forced the Head of the country’s anti-graft Commission to part with N 53,000 before letting him of the hook .
According to CP Sanusi, the officers who were totally unaware of the identity of their prey stopped the ICPC boss at their illegal checkpoint, and compelled him in the course of their unauthorized duties to withdraw the said sum from a nearby Point of Sales, PoS, operator.
The police CP noted that the ICPC Chairman was just one of the numerous victims of the illegal check point mounted by the officers.
“They extorted the Chairman of the ICPC of N53,000. They took him to a PoS, he withdrew the money ,paid the charges and they shared the money among themselves”, CP Sanusi stated
The CP however , disclosed that the affected officers were subsequently arrested based on the confession of their gang leader who was first intercepted.
“The Command, after declaring the officers involved wanted, apprehended their leader. Following his confession , operatives were able to track down the other three members of the syndicate.
“We have got all of them. We are going to make sure they are severely punished. Those that are going to be dismissed will definitely be dismissed ..
“This is totally unacceptable. You cannot stop anybody on the road and ask the person to bring out his phone for a search.
“If any policeman stops you and asks to search your phone, don’t agree. Call the police emergency lines, and we will ask them why”, Sanusi stated .
The CP further revealed that preliminary findings have indicated that the officers involved had established a syndicate that specializes in mounting illegal check points for the purpose of extorting unsuspecting members of the public, especially road users.
Sanusi assured that all lawful measures will be explored to appropriately handle the matter, and punish all those involved so as to serve as lesson to those who may wish to toe similar unprofessional routes .
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