Lagos police begin trial of four inspectors arrested over extortion

Etim Ekpimah

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered for immediate orderly room trial of four inspectors who have confessed to extorting N70,000 from a 16-year-old student – Segun, to serve as a deterrent to others.

It was learnt that the four inspectors harassed and extorted the money from the lad on January 18 at NGAB Junction in the Isheri area of Lagos State, in a Toyota Corolla car.

This was contained in a police statement with Ref No. CZ: 5650/LA/PPRO/Vol.3/61 and signed by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Friday.

According to Adejobi, the picture of the policemen, who were caught in the act of unprofessionalism and extortion, had gone viral on the social media which attracted the Complaint Response Unit of the Nigeria Police Force.

He said: “The Lagos State Police Command has arrested four (4) police Inspectors that allegedly harassed and extorted 70,000 from one 16 years old student, Segun, on January 18 at NGAB Junction, Isheri area of Lagos State, in a Toyota Corolla car.

“The picture of the policemen, who were caught in the act of unprofessionalism and extortion, had gone viral on social media, which attracted the Complaint Response Unit of the Nigeria Police Force, Force Headquarters Abuja, to track the policemen for necessary action.

“The matter was subsequently referred to the Lagos State Police Command for further action.

“The police Inspectors arrested are: 223329 Inspr Emmanuel Michael, m, 40; 146504 Inspr Sunday Odubiyi, m, 40; 256496 Inspr Lawrence Amedu, m, 39, and, 255043 Inspr Aroye Dickson, m, 40.

“After due interrogation, the policemen confessed to the crime and refunded the N70,000 to the student, on bond, which forms the key credible evidence/exhibit in the case.”

According to the statement, Odumosu, condemned the act of the police inspectors, which is detrimental to the image of the Police Force and counterproductive to the ongoing reform agenda of the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, NPM, mni.

Odumosu also warned officers and men in Lagos State that the command would spread its tentacles in fighting against such criminal, unprofessional and disgusting act among police personnel in Lagos State.

He also assured members of the public of people-oriented and community-based policing styles in Lagos State, adding that justice will be done in Segun’s case.