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Tag: ‘extortion

  • Buratai orders probe of ‘extortion’

    Buratai orders probe of ‘extortion’

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has ordered an investigation into the alleged extortion of motorists by soldiers on the Maiduguri-Gamboru Ngala road in Borno State.

    The Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, in a statement yesterday, said the order followed complaints by a man, “DanBorno”, on his Twitter account.

    DanBorno accused soldiers of collecting N300,000 from each truck driver to escort vehicles on the road.

    The statement reads: “The Army has noted with great concern, allegations of complacency and extortion against soldiers

    “Consequent upon this, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Buratai, has ordered an immediate investigation of the allegations.

    “The Army, as a professional military institution, thrives on discipline, selflessness and dedication to duty, and operates within the confines of the laws, Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement. It would not tolerate any act of misdemeanour by any of its personnel.

    “Similarly, we encourage the public to take advantage of our toll free telephone number 193, to report any observed lapses or allegation against any officer or soldier.”

    Gen. Usman spokesman called on the public, especially affected individuals in Borno, to cooperate and volunteer information to the investigation team.

  • LASTMA arrests five officials for extortion

    LASTMA arrests five officials for extortion

    The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has arrested five traffic officials for extorting motorists last week.

    Bamidele Sheu, Ope Adisa and Babatunde Aluko were arrested following a complaint by a clearing agent, Babatunde Akinmolayan, that his container truck, marked AA 553 NGW, was illegally impounded on the Marina, in Lagos.

    The trio allegedly demanded N80,000 bribe to release the vehicle.

    Akinmolayan said he was accompanying the container truck on Monday to deliver goods at Walter Carrington Street on Victoria Island, Lagos.

    He said the truck was stopped on the Marina, close to the State House by the three LASTMA officials and others in mufti, for driving at unauthorised hours.

    Akinmolayan said they ignored pleas to release the truck,  which they eventually took to their yard at Olowu, where they demanded N80,000.

    The vehicle was later released when the zonal head  intervened, and N7, 000 was given to some men in mufti.

    In the same week, Jimoh Olaosebikan and Emmanuel Padonu were arrested by LASTMA surveillance unit at Okokomaiko and Mile 12.

    Olaosebikan collected N20,000 from a female motorist for ‘making’ an illegal u-turn at Okokomaiko.

    The motorist said “all explanations that other vehicles have been turning there before failed to convince him and efforts to see his superior officers in their office were frustrated by him, only for him to collect N20,000 from me before their surveillance team emerged from nowhere to arrest him.”

    Padonu was picked up following a tip off  from the public that some traffic officials were conniving with men in mufti to arrest and collect money from commercial drivers.

    LASTMA’s General Manager Olawale Musa advised motorists to report any LASTMA official found wanting.

    “LASTMA operates a cashless policy and motorists should not give money to any LASTMA official under any circumstance. Furthermore, LASTMA officials on duty are always in uniforms, with names conspicuously displayed on the breast pockets, and motorists should disregard anybody not in uniform claiming to be agency officials,” he said.

    The LASTMA boss said: “I want to assure motorists that we have put everything in place to ensure free-flow of traffic during the Yuletide period and I want to implore motorists to imbibe the culture of voluntary compliance with directives, obey road signs and laws so that we can have seamless traffic during this Yuletide period”.

    Over 20 officials of the agency were dismissed this year for misconduct.

  • Two in court for alleged extortion 

    Two in court for alleged extortion 

    A Karu Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, has admitted Ismaila Yusuf and Chioma Eze to bail of N1,000,000 for alleged joint act and extortion.

    The Magistrate, Folashade Oyekan, ordered the defendants to produce one surety each.

    She said the surety must be a civil servant of Grade Level 8 and above. She adjourned the case till December 6 for hearing.

    Ismaila, a tailor of Gwagwalada and Chioma, a businesswoman of Mararaba, are facing a two-count charge of joint act and extortion.

    The police prosecutor, Mahmud Lawal, told the court that Regina Emmanuel of 24, Alabi Close, Dutse Alhaji, Abuja, reported the matter at Maitama Police Station, Abuja, on October 31.

    He alleged that on December 30, 2016, the complainant entered the same vehicle with the defendants from NICON Junction, Maitama to Dutse Alhaji, adding that they conspired and stole her two phones and wristwatch.

    Lawal said other items stolen included handbag, bread, biscuit and perfume, valued at N88,400.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    Lawal said the offence contravened sections 79 and 292 of the Penal Code.

  • Police suspend ASP as 16 get sanctions for extortion

    Police suspend ASP as 16 get sanctions for extortion

    •’Officers extorted N834,000 in three mont

    AN Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) attached to the Lagos Police Command, Bayo Obadiah, has been suspended for engaging in extortion and professional misconducts.

    Sixteen other policemen were also sanctioned, according to the third quarter report of the Police Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU) released yesterday.

    The report also indicated that N834,000 extorted from members of the public within the period under review was recovered and returned to the owners.

    Seven hundred and sixty-four complaints were recorded between July and September, with Lagos, Rivers and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) topping the list.

    Lagos State Command, the report said, ranked highest with 180 complaints (23.56 per cent), followed by Rivers with 102 (13.35 per cent) and FCT generated 87 (11.39 per cent).

    Head of PCRRU Abayomi Shogunle, a Chief Superintendent of Police, said the Police Service Commission (PSC) approved the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris’ recommendation that Obadiah be suspended for corruption.

    He said: “Part of the money recovered include ?100,000 previously extorted from a woman in Kano State, who got her money after she contacted the PCRRU.

    “Sokoto and Plateau State Commands recorded no complaint in the period under review. In all, phone call was the most preferred channel by the public for lodging complaints with 447 (58.5 per cent), WhatsApp 203 (26.57 per cent Twitter 19 (2.49 per cent), Facebook 6 (0.71 per cent), SMS 3 (0.39 per cent), BBM 1 (0.13 per cent) and others (written petitions, media publications etc.) 29 (3.80 per cent).

    Aside addressing issues of misconduct, Shogunle said the police in Ondo were able to arrest suspected terrorists following the PCRRU face-to-face confidence building with citizens in Akoko.

    He said: “Massive sensitisation campaigns were carried out in selected states. Helicopter airdrops were carried out in Kano and Kaduna states. Face-to-face disseminations were carried out in Borno and Ondo states by PCRRU agents.

    He said his unit was able to achieve the above through “collaboration and support received from our partners”.

    “Efforts are ongoing to upgrade the PCRRU Call Centre so as to improve the efficiency of the unit,” Shogunle said.

  • Emir Sanusi sacks two traditional title holders over extortion

    Emir Sanusi sacks two traditional title holders over extortion

    The Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II,  yesterday sacked the Village Head of Hungu, Ibrahim Shehu and the Ward Head of Zangwan, Galal Nadabo Adamu for extortion.

    The two traditional title holders were involved in a syndicated case with a Police Inspector, Umaru Abubakar, for collecting over N60,000 from the mother of an accused, Hauwa Sule, in Albasu Local Area of the State.

    The Emir, announced the sacking of the traditional title holders after receiving an investigation report on the deal from the District Head of Albasu, Alhaji Bashir Albasu, Katikan Kano at the palace.

    A report revealed that already N33,000 had already been collected out of the N50,000 from the mother of the suspect, Yusuf Sule of Hungun Village of Albasu LGA.

    The Emir, however warned the traditional title holders to desist from any act capable of smearing the image of the Kano Emirate Council and the tradition.

  • Fraudsters using Magu’s name to extort money, says EFCC

    Fraudsters using Magu’s name to extort money, says EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has again warned the public against the activities of fraudsters using the name of its Acting Chairman to dupe public office holders.

    Spokesman of the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said in a statement on Tuesday that the repeated alerts were necessitated by the persistence of the criminals.

    “For the umpteenth time, the EFCC is constrained to alert the public on the activities of fraudsters who have been extorting prominent office holders using the name of its Acting Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu.

    “Their targets include sitting governors, ministers, and national chairmen of leading political parties.

    “Members of these criminal gangs, from available information, have been writing invitation letters to some politically exposed persons on the pretext that such communication emanated from the office of the acting chairman of the EFCC.

    “The commission has had cause to issue public disclaimer of such fraudulent letters, still the criminals are undeterred,” Uwujaren said.

    He said there were also cases in the past where fraudsters sent messages demanding bribes from unsuspecting members of the public using cloned email and Facebook accounts of Magu.
    The situation, according to him, is compounded by the fact that not all recipients of such fraudulent invitations had the courage to approach the commission for clarification.

    “The EFCC wishes to dissociate itself from the activities of these criminal gangs.

    “It is important to state that Magu has not written or mandated any one to write any invitation letter to any state governor.

    “He has no reason to do so as they belong to the category of officials that enjoy constitutional immunity from criminal prosecution while in office,” he said.

    The EFCC Spokesman urged affected public officers to be wary and endeavour to verify the authenticity of any supposed letter of invitation they received from the acting chairman.

    “Under no circumstance should members of the public offer gratification to anyone that claims to be an officer of the EFCC.

    “Indeed such demand for gratification is enough indication that an impostor was up to mischief and should immediately be reported to the nearest office of the commission or police station.

    “Magu has not mandated any one to approach anybody to collect bribes on his behalf.

    “Any one claiming to represent his interest in any such unwholesome transaction should be apprehended,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this is the second time the commission is issuing this alert this year, the first being in August.

    A similar warning also came in June, 2016.

  • Three policemen held for alleged extortion

    Three policemen held for alleged extortion

    The X-Squad Unit of the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID) has arrested three policemen for alleged extortion of motorists at Surulere, Lagos mainland.

    The Nation learnt that the men, from the Surulere Police Division, are in detention pending disciplinary action.

    Following their arrest, acting Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal directed that a query be issued to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Surulere, for alleged poor supervision.

    The command’s spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said the Commissioner was unhappy that the the incident occured despite directives from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) that senior officers would be held accountable for the actions of their subordinates.

    Famous-Cole said the Commissioner also placed restrictions on the category of persons to sign detention order.

    He said: “Yes, three policemen were arrested. I do not have their details but they are being interrogated. The CP directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in charge of Administration to issue the DPO of the area a query for poor supervision.

    “He also directed that henceforth, only Heads of Department (HODs), Area Commanders and DPOs are allowed to sign detention orders.

    Famous-Cole said the CP had warned that Area Commanders or DPOs would be held liable if their jurisdiction is found culpable in any “unworthy, shameful act of unnecessary detention of citizens.”

  • Residents accuse police of extortion

    Residents accuse police of extortion

    Some residents of Ikorodu yesterday cried out over what they called incessant harassment by the Officer-in-Charge (O-I-C) of Ibeshe Police Post and his men.

    They accused the police of unlawfully arresting them and extorting money from them.

    They complained on their community page on Facebook, Ikorodu Ambassadors, aboutthe incessant arrest of youngsters by policemen. The police, they claimed, accused their victims of being internet fraudsters or moving at ungodly hours.

    They claimed that no fewer than 20 persons were arrested last Friday night, in the latest of such actions.

    But in a swift reaction, police chief Fatai Owoseni said the allegations were being investigated and asked the victims to come forward with their complaints.

    Owoseni said: ”We have been investigating allegations of extortion and policemen found culpable have been meted necessary sanctions. Some of them were recently dismissed and are being prosecuted. The Inspector General of Police has zero tolerance for unprofessional conducts and corruption. Affected persons should be assured that we would get to the root of the matter.”

    Amodu Olorunjedalo, whose brother, Akeem Shobona was one of those arrested, said the policemen collected between N15,000 and N25,000 from each of the victims.

    Olorunjedalo wrote: “The O-I-C of Police Post, Ibeshe needs money. When you actually think you have seen it all, the Nigeria Police will spring up surprises just to extort citizens. Over 30 law-abiding citizens were unlawfully arrested yesterday (Friday) night around Access Bank, Ikorodu Garage, BRT Bus Terminal, Haruna, and Agric starting from 8pm till 11pm.

    “They were packed in the bus like sardines and transported to Ibeshe Police Post. These innocent citizens were forcefully picked, maltreated, severely beaten and threatened at gun point for demanding to know the reason behind their arrest. It was not until they got to the police post that they disclosed to them that the O-I-C, who was seen opposite drinking, needs funds for God knows what. Varying amounts ranging from N25,000, N20,000, N15,000 were collected for bail from them in these trying times. Which way are we going with this notorious police? How long are we going to be subjected to this and many more untoward hardship in the hands of these black sheep?”

    Shobona claimed that he was handcuffed with another victim and driven round Ikorodu from 8pm to 1am before he was taken to the Ibeshe Police Post.

    He said four cops sporting T-shirts with the inscription “Raiders” on the back bundled him into a commercial Vanagon (Danfo) bus.

    The 37-year-old printer said: “I want the Police Commissioner and the Force Headquarters to investigate this matter. I was kept in the cell till around 10am on Saturday when I was released after they had collected the N3,300 I had on me, my sister’s N1,000 and N500 from another guy.

    “I was going home from work when they accosted me. It was around 8pm. I alighted from a Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) bus at Garage, Ikorodu and I saw my sister where she was selling food. I stopped to ask her where her mother was that she was the one selling.

    “The next thing, four armed policemen wearing T-shirts approached me and said I should enter their Danfo bus. I asked them why and they said they would beat, shoot me if I refused to obey them. So, I didn’t argue with them and entered the bus.

    “I was the first person inside the bus and they drove me around Ikorodu, picking other victims. We were more than 15 inside the bus and I saw them beat up anyone who tried to resist them. They handcuffed me with another guy. They drove round Ikorodu till about 1am before they took us to the police post at Ibeshe.

    “When we got there, those who had money and didn’t want to enter the cell paid between N10,000 and N25,000 for their release. They searched me and they only saw N3,300. They now said I should write statement for moving around at ungodly hour.

    “After taking my statement, they put me inside the cell. In the cell, I saw about nine people including a teenager, who said he was raided around 6pm at Magbedike, a street behind the Oba’s Palace.

    “He was very young and I picked interest in his case because I was wondering why a kid like that would be locked up in a cell. I have never been to a police station before. I have never been arrested and then, the policemen locked me up for doing nothing! It is shocking.

    “So, those of us who could not raise that much money were locked up and my sister came to the post to bail me. They collected the N1,000 she was holding. They collected my N3,300 they saw while they were searching me and they collected N500 from another guy before they released us around 10am on Saturday.

    “How do they expect poor masses like us to trust the police when they keep mistreating us? Why can’t they go after the real criminals and leave innocent people alone? I was very scared and couldn’t look any of them in the face because they threatened to shoot, beat anyone who tried to identify them.”

  • IG dismisses three policemen for illegal arrest, extortion

    IG dismisses three policemen for illegal arrest, extortion

    Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris has dismissed three policemen for their involvement in illegal arrest, detention and extortion of money from some people.

    The dismissed personnel – AP. No 136005 Inspector Okelue Nkemeonye, F/No. 355897 Sgt. Braimoh Sunday and F/No. 359928 Sgt. Yusuf Olukoga – were attached to Area Command, Ijede-Ikorodu under the Lagos State Command.

    The policemen, who were armed and pretended to be members of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), harassed their victims and collected N200,000 from them before they were released.

    In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, the Officer in charge of Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU), Abayomi Shogunle, stated that the personnel tagged their victims Internet fraudsters – “Yahoo Yahoo boys”.

    Shogunle said the policemen collected N90,000 through the ATM and N110,000 through mobile bank money transfer to a third party account provided by the policemen.

    He said the officers were found guilty and dismissed after they appeared at Orderly Room trial at the Zone Two Command Headquarters, Onikan-Yaba, Lagos.

    He said the adjudicating officer found them guilty on two charges of offence against discipline as provided for in paragraphs C (ii) Corrupt Practices and E (iii) Discreditable Conduct of the First Schedule of Police Act and Regulations Cap. P19. Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

    Giving details, Shogunle said: “On the June 21, 2017 the Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU) received a complaint via WhatsApp number 08057000003.

    “The complaint reads: ‘I went to the bank this morning to deposit money to a company’s account, but there was no network. So, I deposited the money into my personal account to do the transfer to the account later.

    “When I came out of the bank, I saw a car packed full of some SARS policemen wearing black clothes with anti-robbery squad written at the back. I was told to enter the vehicle with a gun pointed at me.

    “They collected my mobile phone and asked me what I do for a living. I told them that I had just finished my youth service and I am living with my brother. I pointed my brother’s shop to them to stop by and see him because he was the one that sent me to the bank. They refused to wait and they did not allow me to pick my calls or call out.”

    The complaint further reads: “I received an alert on my phone with the money I went to deposit. They searched my phone and on seeing the alert, they labelled me as a yahoo boy and told me that I would pay them N1 million.

    “One of them slapped me. They drove us around places in Ikorodu, Ijede, Gberigbe, Ibeshe, Igbe, Ipakodo, Itaelewa, Agric and First Gate, harassing people, moving them in the car and collecting huge amount from them.

    “They collected N50,000 from me. But I noticed that each junction that we reached, people were hailing their leader by his nickname (OJ Ojewunmi). And one by name Austin slapped me.

    “They picked me up around 9am and dropped me at about 6pm in the evening after collecting money from me. They also used my account to collect money from the guys that I met in the car and used my ATM to withdraw from them.”

    Shogunle said his team was dispatched to Ikorodu where all the three dismissed policemen, including AP No. 98199 ASP Bayo Obadia, who led the team, were apprehended.

    He said preliminary investigation by the unit revealed that the allegations contained in the complaint sent via WhatsApp message actually happened.

    “Also, the four police officers, who were armed on the day of the incident, falsely paraded themselves as operatives of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) despite not being posted to SARS by police authorities.

    “Investigation also showed that the officers extorted a total sum of N200,000 from the young men who they tagged ‘Yahoo Yahoo Boys’. The money was forced from them via N90,000 ATM withdrawal and N110,000 mobile bank money transfer to a third party account provided by the policemen. All the extorted N200,000 was recovered by the PCRRU investigators.

    “All the arrested officers, witnesses and recovered exhibits, including the N200,000 cash and printed bank statement of account, were handed over to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2 Lagos for further detailed investigation and necessary disciplinary measures.

    “The approval of the punishment of dismissal from service as recommended by the adjudicating officer is part of the outcome of the disciplinary measures,” Shogunle said.

    On what would become of the fourth person in the act, he said: “In the case of ASP Bayo Obadiah, who led the team of the infamous men on this unacceptable conduct, an official query was issued to him by the AIG Zone 2 Lagos, both his reply and Query has been forwarded to the office of the Force Secretary, Force Headquarters, Abuja from where it would be proceeded to the Police Service Commission as required by police regulations.”

  • Police dismiss four for extortion

    Police dismiss four for extortion

    the Police have dismissed four policemen attached to Ijebu-Ode Area Command in Ogun State for extorting N50,000 from their victim.

    The money was allegedly meant for bail.

    Officer in charge of Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU) ACP Abayomi Shogunle gave the name of the dismissed personnel as: AP. No 122800 Inspr. Mufutau Olaosun, F/No. 366127 Sgt. Adebayo Temitope, F/No. 455593 Cpl. Bakare Taiwo and F/No. 455554 Cpl. Adesoye Ayokunlehin.

    In a statement in Abuja yesterday, the police said the affected policemen 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 statement said on June 12, 2017, the unit received a complaint via its WhatsApp number 08057000003 about misconduct of some policemen.

    The complainant, according to the statement, said he was sent by his boss to withdraw money from the bank and on his way back, a police car  pulled over. The policemen  in the vehicle collected  his phone and he was accused of stealing the phone.

    He added that he was taken to the station where he was accused of being an Internet fraudster, he was beaten, forced to write a statement dictated to him and that N50,000 was collected as money for bail.

    Shogunle said the complaint was immediately registered with tracking number PCRRU451591  and investigation initiated.

    According to the statement: “The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Igbeba Division, Ijebu-Ode was mandated to commence an enquiry straightaway.

    “The policemen were identified and it was discovered that they apprehended the complainant on June 7, 2017 without any reasonable cause and extorted the sum of N50,000; bail money despite the #BailisFree campaign before he was eventually released same day.

    “The extorted N50,000 was subsequently recovered from these unethical policemen, who were armed in plain clothes on the day of the incident. Their action is contrary to the directives of the Inspector-General of Police and unacceptable…

    “The complainant was also handed back his N50,000 with an apology a day after he lodged the complaint.”