Extortion: Police Dismiss ASP, 3 Others

Matilda Omonaiye/

Police authorities have dismissed an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and four other policemen from service for alleged extortion.

According to a third quarter report released by the Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU) of the Nigeria Police, a total of 16 officers were punished for various acts of misconduct within the period.

The ASP, Bayo Obadiah, allegedly led a team comprising three junior officers, Inspector Okelue Nkemeonye, Sgt Braimah Sunday and Sgt Yusuf Olukoga, who falsely paraded themselves as operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Ikorodu, Lagos, on June 21, to extort innocent citizens.

According to the officer in charge of PCRRU, ACP Abayomi Shogunle, their dismissal followed an orderly room trial at the Zone ‘2’ Command Headquarters, Lagos, where they were found guilty by the adjudicating officer.

The report says a sum of N200,000 they took from their victims was also recovered from the dismissed police officers.

The report further says a total of N834,000 extorted from the public was recovered from indicted police officers during the same period.

According to the report, Lagos State recorded the highest number of complaints against the police with 180 out of the 764 reports received during the period.

The report reads: “Still in the pursuit of implementing the ‘Change Begins with Me’ campaign of the Federal Government and in line with the desire of the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim K. Idris, in bringing an end to impunity, the PCRRU in Q3 2017 recovered and returned a total sum of eight hundred and thirty-four thousand naira (N834,000) extorted by police officers to members of the public.

“Sixteen (16) police officers were also sanctioned for various acts of professional misconduct during the period under review (July-September, 2017). The Police Service Commission equally approved the suspension from service of an Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP Bayo Obadiah attached to Area ‘N’ Command, Ikorodu, Lagos over corrupt practices.

“As a result of targeted campaigns across the country two terror suspects were also apprehended following the PCRRU face-to-face confidence building with citizens in Akoko are of Ondo State.

“Part of the money recovered includes the sum of ₦100,000 extorted from a woman in Kano State, who got her money back after she contacted the PCRRU.

“A total number of 764 complaints was recorded in the Q3 2017, with Lagos State Command topping the table with 180 (23.56 percent), followed by Rivers State with 102 (13.35 percent) and FCT-Abuja 87 (11.39 percent). Sokoto and Plateau State Commands recorded no complaint in the period under review.

“In all, phone call was the most preferred channel by members of the public for lodging complaints with 447 (58.5 percent) WhatsApp 203 (26.57 percent), Twitter 19 (2.49 percent), Facebook 6 (0.71 percent), SMS 3 (0.39 percent), BBM 1 (0.13 percent) and others such as Written Petition, Media Publications etc. 29 (3.80 percent).”

The PCRRU stated that it carried out “massive sensitization campaigns in selected states”, adding that “helicopter airdrops were carried out in Kano and Kaduna States, while face-to-face dissemination was carried out in Borno and Ondo States by PCRRU agents”.

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