COVID-19 Lockdown: Lagos CP Returns N40,000 to Victim of Police Extortion, Orders Probe of DPO, Others

Matilda Omonaiye/

Lagos State Police Commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu, today returned N40,000 to a victim of police extortion.

The unnamed victim who was arrested on Friday for allegedly violating the COVID-19 lockdown in Lagos had secretly filmed a police officer extorting him at the station.

The victim who later shared the video on social media said he was accosted along Ago Palace Way, Okota, by police officers attached to the Ago Police Station on his way to buy foodstuff at a neighbourhood mall.

His vehicle was impounded and was subsequently taken to the station where one Inspector Taloju Martin extorted him of N40,000.

He claimed that the inspector also extorted other victims who were arrested for the same offence.

But a statement by the Lagos State Police Command this evening says that the inspector had been arrested and would be prosecuted accordingly.

The statement signed by the command’s spokesperson, Bala Elkana, further says that the commissioner of police had ordered a probe of all the personnel attached to the affected police station based on the allegation.

He said the victim was invited to police headquarters in Ikeja where his money was returned to him.

Read full statement:

12th April, 2020.

Press Release

Police Inspector in viral video arrested and tried for extortion

Attention of Lagos State Police Command is drawn to a video on social media in which an Inspector was captured counting #40,000 he extorted from the owner of a vehicle he impounded for violating restriction of movement order. 

After analysing the video, the culprit was identified and arrested. He is Inspector Taloju Martin attached to Ago Police Station as Station Officer (SO).

The complainant has also been identified. The money extorted is recovered and handed over to him by the Commissioner of Police.

The Commissioner of Police Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu psc has ordered the Deputy Commissioner of Police in Charge of Criminal Investigation to carry out an in depth investigation into the activities of Ago Police Station as a whole.

Meanwhile, the Inspector arrested is handed over to Provost Marshall for Orderly Room Trials.

Commissioner of Police has reaffirmed his stance against corrupt practices and impunity. Members of the public will be updated on the outcome of the investigation. 

DSP Bala Elkana
Police Public Relations Officer,
Lagos State.

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