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| ICPC CHAIRMAN, DR MUSA ALIYU (SAN) |
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 unauthorised 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 illegally mounted a checkpoint and extorted the ICPC chairman without knowing his identity.
CP Sanusi said the officers compelled Dr. Aliyu to withdraw ₦53,000 through a Point of Sale (POS) operator and also made him pay the transaction charges before sharing the proceeds among themselves.
“I must say here too that we have about four policemen in custody as we speak who successfully extorted somebody of high importance, unknown to them that this person is a highly placed person in society. In clear terms, they extorted the Chairman of the ICPC. They extorted him of ₦53,000. They took him to a POS, he withdrew the money, paid the charges and they shared the money among themselves,” the CP said.
Describing the suspects as “a gang of criminals,” Sanusi said they left their respective divisions, assembled in the Wuse Banex area, established an illegal checkpoint and carried out the extortion before fleeing the scene.
The police commissioner revealed that 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 make sure they are severely punished. Those that are going to be dismissed will definitely be dismissed,” he stated.
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.