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Four FCT police officers have been arrested and detained after allegedly extorting ₦53,000 from ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Aliyu (SAN), at an illegal roadblock mounted around the Banex axis of Abuja.
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The officers allegedly abandoned their official duty posts, stopped the anti-corruption chief without recognising him, forced him to withdraw cash through a POS terminal, and shared the proceeds among themselves.
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FCT Commissioner of Police Ahmed Sanusi said investigations were launched immediately, leading to the arrest of the alleged gang leader and the subsequent apprehension of the other three suspects.
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The command says the officers face disciplinary proceedings that could result in dismissal, while residents have been urged to reject unlawful phone searches and promptly report police extortion and other misconduct.
July 20, (THEWILL) — What appeared to be another routine extortion stop at an illegal police roadblock in Abuja has instead exposed four officers of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command to disciplinary action after their alleged victim turned out to be the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr Musa Aliyu (SAN).
The officers allegedly stopped the anti-corruption chief along the Banex axis of Wuse, forced him to withdraw ₦53,000 through a Point of Sale (POS) terminal, and collected additional transaction charges before sharing the money among themselves, according to the FCT Police Command.
Announcing the development on Monday, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, said all four officers had been arrested, detained, and placed under disciplinary procedures, adding that the command would ensure they were punished in line with police regulations if found culpable.
“This is outright criminality. Such conduct has no place in the Nigeria Police Force,” Sanusi told journalists during a media briefing in Abuja.
Providing insight into the incident, Sanusi said preliminary investigations showed that the officers had abandoned their officially assigned duty posts before converging around the Banex area in Wuse, where they allegedly mounted an unauthorised checkpoint.
According to him, the officers used the illegal roadblock to stop and allegedly extort motorists before intercepting Dr Aliyu, apparently unaware that he headed one of Nigeria’s foremost anti-corruption agencies.
The commissioner said the ICPC chairman was allegedly compelled to withdraw ₦53,000 through a POS operator and also made to pay the associated withdrawal charges.
Investigators believe the officers subsequently shared the money among themselves.
How The Officers Were Tracked
Sanusi disclosed that the command moved swiftly after receiving details of the incident.
He said the officers were immediately declared wanted, while investigators intensified efforts to identify and apprehend everyone involved.
According to him, detectives first arrested the alleged leader of the group, whose interrogation led to the arrest of the remaining three officers.
“The investigation is progressing well, and every officer found culpable will face the consequences of his actions,” the commissioner said.
He added that the disciplinary process could culminate in dismissal from service, depending on the outcome of the investigation.
Renewed Crackdown On Police Misconduct
Beyond the specific case, Sanusi said the command would intensify surveillance of officers on patrol to eliminate illegal checkpoints and other forms of misconduct that have continued to erode public confidence in policing.
He reiterated that extortion, intimidation, and abuse of members of the public remain serious offences under police regulations and would attract severe sanctions.
The commissioner stressed that officers who abandon their assigned duty locations or engage in unauthorised operations would equally be held accountable.
Sanusi also restated the Inspector-General of Police’s directive prohibiting indiscriminate searches of citizens’ mobile phones during patrols.
He advised Nigerians not to surrender their phones for unlawful roadside searches or succumb to extortion demands from officers operating outside established procedures.
Instead, he urged victims and witnesses to promptly report such incidents through police emergency lines and other official complaint channels to enable immediate action.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
