The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has approved the dismissal from service of four police officers attached to Ijebu-Ode Area Command in Ogun State.
The four policemen were dismissed for extorting N50,000 from an innocent Nigerian, who they alleged was a fraudster, a news bulletin made available to ALEDEH by the Head of Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU), ACP Abayomi Shogunle confirmed the development.
After the Nigerian who pleaded anonymity reported the case to the Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU), the unit issued tracking number and investigation was initiated.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Igbeba Division, Ijebu-Ode was mandated to commence an enquiry straightaway after which the policemen were identified and it was discovered that they apprehended the complainant on 7th June, 2017 without any reasonable cause and extorted the sum of Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000) “Bail Money” despite the #BailisFree campaign before he was eventually released same day.
The four officers were charged, tried and found guilty in an Orderly Room conducted at the Area Command Headquarters, Ijebu-Ode for two offences against discipline as provided for in Paragraphs E (iii) Discreditable Conduct and C (ii) Corrupt Practice under the First Schedule of Police Act and Regulations Cap. P19. Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
The affected officers are: Inspr. Mufutau Olaosun, Sgt. Adebayo Temitope, Cpl. Bakare Taiwo and Cpl, Adesoye Ayokunlehin.
The extorted N50,000 was subsequently recovered from the policemen who were armed in plain clothes on the day of the incident and handed back to the complainant with an apology a day after he lodged the complaint.
Meanwhile, the punishment of dismissal from service has been upheld with immediate effect and all NPF uniforms and accoutrements including warrant cards (ID cards) issued to the men have been retrieved with all dismissal procedures completed.
ALEDEH recalls that the development is coming few weeks after two traffic wardens were dismissed for extortion.
In a related development, Inspector-General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris NPM, mni while reiterating his stand on zero tolerance for corruption vows to “flush out those tarnishing police image” from the Force.
