The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has detained four police officers over the alleged extortion of ₦53,000 from the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Musa Aliyu, at a checkpoint in Abuja.

FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, disclosed the development while addressing journalists, describing the officers’ actions as criminal and assuring that they would face disciplinary measures.

According to Sanusi, the officers, unaware of the identity of their victim, allegedly forced the ICPC chairman to a Point of Sale (POS) terminal, where he paid ₦53,000 before the officers withdrew and shared the money among themselves.

Commissioner’s account

He revealed that the officers had abandoned their assigned duty posts and converged in the Banex area of Abuja to mount an illegal checkpoint where the extortion took place.

The police commissioner said the suspects fled after the incident but were later declared wanted and arrested.

“We have about four policemen in custody who successfully extorted somebody of high importance without knowing who he was. They extorted the Chairman of the ICPC,” Sanusi said.

He vowed that any officer found guilty would face severe punishment, including dismissal from the Nigeria Police Force.

The police boss also urged Nigerians to report cases of misconduct by officers, assuring that the command would investigate and bring offenders to justice.

Sanusi further reiterated that police officers are not permitted to search citizens’ mobile phones during routine patrols or stop-and-search operations unless the individual has been lawfully arrested and taken to a police station as part of a criminal investigation.

He explained that the directive banning indiscriminate phone searches was introduced to curb abuses by security personnel while ensuring that digital evidence is only examined through due legal process.