4 police officers dismissed over N50,000 'bribe'
- Four police officers discharged from their jobs over bribery allegation
- They reportedly extorted the sum of N50,000 from a man
- The victim reported the incident to Rapid Respond Unit and the officers were arrested
The Nigeria Police Force has approved the dismissal from service of four police officers attached to Ijebu-Ode Area Command in Ogun state for alleged bribery scandal.
Legit.ng gathered that the affected officers are:
(1) AP. No 122800 Inspector Mufutau Olaosun
(2) F/No. 366127 Sergeant Adebayo Temitope
(3) F/No. 455593 Corporal Bakare Taiwo
(4) F/No. 455554 Corporal 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.
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The officers were arraigned after the Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU) received a complaint via Whatsapp number 0805 700 0003 about their misconduct.
The complaint lodged against them reads: “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 them 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 arresting 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.”
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The complaint was immediately registered, 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 Bail is Free campaign 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.
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 accoutrements 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.
Members of the public are advised not to resort to self-help when faced with case of police misconduct, but are enjoined to report such to the PCRRU for resolution. PCRRU is available 24/7 via the following channels; Phone Calls Only: 08057000001, 08057000002, SMS/WhatsApp Only: 08057000003, Twitter: @PoliceNG_PCRRU, Facebook: www.facebook.com/PolicePCRRU, Email: complaint@npf.gov.ng OR PolicePCRRU@gmail.com.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that two traffic wardens, Musa Muktar with force number 394120 GDI and Shuaibu Suleman with number 10627 have been sacked for alleged extortion.
The announcement was made by ACP Abayomi Shogunle, the assistant commissioner of police in charge of the Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU), in Abuja on June 20, 2017.
The statement obtained by Legit.ng showed that the sacked officers were attached to the Wuse Police Division in the Federal Capital Territory command.
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Source: Legit.ng
