The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has detained four police officers over allegations of extorting the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Musa Aliyu.
The Commissioner of Police for the FCT, Ahmed Sanusi, disclosed the development while addressing journalists in Abuja, stating that the officers had been taken into custody and were undergoing investigation.
According to Sanusi, the officers were unaware of the identity of the individual they allegedly extorted. He revealed that they demanded and collected ₦53,000 from the ICPC chairman before sharing the money among themselves.
The police commissioner explained that the officers reportedly took Aliyu to a Point of Sale (POS) terminal, where the payment was made, after which they withdrew and divided the money.
He added that the officers were not operating from their official duty posts but had allegedly assembled from different police divisions to set up an unauthorized checkpoint around the Banex area, where the incident occurred.
Sanusi said the suspects fled after the incident but were later declared wanted and subsequently arrested.
He assured the public that the officers would face appropriate disciplinary measures, including dismissal where necessary, stressing that criminal conduct would not be tolerated within the police force.
The commissioner also encouraged members of the public to report cases of misconduct involving security personnel, noting that prompt reporting helps authorities identify and prosecute offenders.
Speaking on police procedures, Sanusi emphasized that officers are not permitted to search the phones of individuals during routine stops or roadside operations.
He explained that mobile phones can only be searched after a suspect has been lawfully arrested in connection with an alleged offence and taken to a police station as part of an official investigation.
According to him, the directive prohibiting indiscriminate phone searches was introduced to prevent abuse of power and protect the rights of citizens while ensuring that digital evidence is obtained only through lawful procedures.
