The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has detained four officers arrested over alleged extortion of Musa Aliyu, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Chairman.
Aliyu was reportedly extorted of N53,000 by the police officers at an illegal checkpoint in Wuse area of Abuja.
The FCT Police Commissioner, Ahmed Sanusi, made this known while addressing newsmen on Monday at the capital city.
Sanusi narrated how the officers, unaware of Aliyu’s profile, stopped the ICPC Chairman at the checkpoint.
With the anti-graft boss playing along, the detained officers allegedly took him to a POS stand where they withdrew N53,000 from his account and shared amongst themselves.
“We have about four policemen in custody as we speak who extorted somebody. Unknown to them, this person is a highly placed person in the society.
“In fact, in clear terms, they extorted the chairman of the ICPC.
“They extorted him of N53,000. The man followed them gently. He asked somebody to send the money to him.
“They took him to POS. He paid charges for the POS. They withdrew the money and share it among themselves.” Sanusi said.
The FCT Police Conmissioner further disclosed that the officers who came from from different divisions conspired to set up the illegal checkpoint to extort motorists.
“Do you know that that was not even their duty post? They are a gang of criminals from various divisions, came together and moved to Wuse-Banex.
“They created a checkpoint there and they perpetuated this act and ran.
“We declared them wanted, arrested their gang leader. You no say thief no get mind. If you arrest am, he go dey count like witch.
“The guy started counting that oga this one dey, this one dey. We go all of them.
“We are going to make sure they are severely punished.” He said.
Sanusis assured that the officers will be paraded before the public at the conclusion of the disciplinary action against them.
“Once they finish trying them, we will bring them here so that you can see the thieves.
“I’ve made it clear here that you have to choose to be one- either to be a police man or to be a thief. You cannot be the two at the same time.
“If you refuse to choose, your action will tell us where you are.” He said.