The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ‘extortion

  • Rivers Police Command decries extortion

    Policemen serving in the Rivers State Command have been cautioned against extorting money from the public.

    The command warned against intimidating and manhandling civilians to extort money from them.

    Police Commissioner Francis Odesanya, who spoke yesterday at the launch of the Public Complaint Rapid Respond Unit (PCRRU) of the command in Port Harcourt, said any officer caught in fraudulent acts would be sanctioned.

    He said PCRRU was initiated by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, to purge the force of bad eggs.

    Odesanya urged policemen to avoid extorting money from the public, stressing that the command would not tolerate corruption.

    He said PCRRU would provide opportunities for the public to report extortion and other corrupt practices to it, using its telephone hotlines and social media.

    The police boss said any officer caught indulging in crimes would be punished by the X-Squad outfit.

    He advised the public to have confidence in the police, saying they would ensure the safety of their life and property.

    Odesanya enjoined the public to reach the police through text messages, calls and whatsapp, noting that no erring officer would go unpunished.

    Handbills written in English language and the three main Nigerian languages- Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo- instructing the public on how to report any erring officer using the police social media platforms, were distributed to the audience.

  • Abia police chief warns against extortion

    The new Abia State Commissioner of Police (CP) Adeleye Oyebade has warned officers and men of the state command to desist from extorting residents of the state or face prosecution.

    Oyebade said that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris has zero tolerance for corruption including extortion from motorists and suspects.

    Addressing officers and men of the state command in Umuahia on his maiden interaction with them, Oyebade who is returning to the state after leaving it as deputy commissioner of police said that it will no longer be business as usual for any corrupt officer.

    Oyebade said that the era when police is seen as reactive, corrupt and lethargic institution is over, “The new police are committed to changing the perception people have about us, and we want to be seen as purely professionals”.

    He said, “It will be dangerous for a police officer that is not ready to imbibe the culture of professional best practices, diligence and discipline to remain in the present Nigeria Police Force”.

    “My advice to such police officers is that they should kindly change their attitude or else they will be fished out, the new police under IGP Idris is a people’s police which will be proactive”.

    “The new police order is community based, intelligence-led and dynamic police institution, alive to the responsibility of ensuring public order, prevention of crimes and protection of lives and property”.

    Oyebade said that policing is a collective responsibility of all well-meaning Nigerians, adding that it is only when there is a reciprocal trust that the appropriate support and cooperation will be gotten from members of the public.

    He charged his men, “We should perform our duties with the fear of God, in our patrols, while investigating crimes and even when handling suspects, the job should be done, but we must be fair and firm. We must respect the fundamental human rights of the people in the line of duty”.

    The CP called on the Divisional Police Officer (DPOs) to create an environment that will be conducive for those working under them to work effectively, “We should realize that our subordinates are our greatest assets, as no man is an island of knowledge”.

    Oyebade said, “I am a team player and we all are members of the same team, this team must be able to identify and map out effective strategies to defeat the opponents, we must conduct our investigations with professional dexterity.”

  • Police nab three suspects for alleged highway extortion

    Police nab three suspects for alleged highway extortion

    Police operatives attached to the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone II, Onikan have arrested three persons who allegedly engage in illegal revenue collection and extortion.

    The suspects, Ajala Kabiru, Olasunkanmi Popoola and Kazeem Hassan were arrested around Berger on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway on Saturday following petitions from commercial motorists on their activities.

    It was gathered that transport unions petitioned the zonal command, lamenting the illegal toll charged by the suspects who pretend to be officials of government.

    In response to the petitions, the zone was said to have directed its Criminal Investigation and Intellignce Department (ZCIID) to investigate and arrest the culprits.

    Confirming the arrest, the spokesman for the zonal command, Muyiwa Adejobi, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said his boss, AIG Abdulmajid Ali wants government revenue agencies to provide their agents with a means of identification to assist security operatives.

    “AIG Ali has challenged government revenue agencies/agents and departments to always issue marks of identification or personal identity cards to their staff or operatives for easy identification, so as to assist the police and other security operatives in the course of their duties of law enforcement and maintenance of law and order.

    “He assures the public of thorough cleansing of the zonal command and provision of adequate security of lives and property for all and sundry. He urges members of the public to reach him on his mobile line, 08055885544, whenever the need arise,” said Adejobi.

  • Residents decry police alleged indiscriminate arrest, extortion

    Residents decry police alleged indiscriminate arrest, extortion

    •It’s mundane issue, says CP

    Residents of Papa Ajao and Ilasamaja in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State have cried out against alleged indiscriminate arrest and extortion by policemen.

    They accused operatives attached to Olosan Police Station; Zone ‘D’ Area Command and Itire Police Station of frequent harassment.

    Some residents stormed the Olosan Police Station last Tuesday night, demanding the release of their relatives.

    They appealed to the state government to  stop the harassment by policemen, who they claimed usually asked for money from them.

    The Nation gathered that in the last one week, policemen would storm the areas around 7 pm, raiding passersby and young men returning from work.

    It was learnt they usually operate in a 14-seater commercial bus ‘Danfo’, arresting innocent people going about their lawful businesses.

    At the police station, the victims are asked to call their relatives to bail them with as much as N5,000, without taking their statements.

    Last Tuesday, around 7:30 pm, policemen from Olosan Police Station, stormed Bello Street and arrested 15 persons.

    Among the victims dragged onto the ‘Danfo’ bus, and taken to the station were Kayode Olaniyi and Babatunde Saheed. They were returning from work.

    Olaniyi said the bus came towards them and some policemen jumped out and stopped them.

    “They asked where we were coming from and we told them. Suddenly, they started pushing and dragging us into the bus. I asked what my offence was but the next thing I heard was repeated slaps on my face. About three of them descended on us. At that time the vehicle was almost full with people sitting on one another.

    “On telling them that there was no space to sit, they slapped and kicked me all over until I screamed, ‘do you want to kill me? I am not a criminal! What is my offence? Until I sat on two people who already lapped each other, they didn’t stop.

    “As they drove from Bello Street towards Ladipo, they continued picking up people, equally hitting them with planks. There was a man they stopped around Guaranty Trust Bank in Ladipo; he said he was heading to Ikotun but they asked him to get into the bus. He refused and one of the policemen hit him on the legs and bundled him in.

    “After the bus was full; they took us to Olosan Police Station in Mushin and led us into the cell without statement.  The policemen were five. They stopped us from calling our family. Some people, who I met in the bus, said they were arrested around 7 pm.

    “These same officers arrested me about two months ago for walking five minutes away from home at Jumoke Way in Papa-Ajao area. On that fateful evening, I saw my younger brother off and the policemen blocked me while coming back, at Ogunmefun by Aladesuru junction. It was one of my sisters that helped me out.

    “The bad thing is that they usually disguise, they don’t wear uniform or use official vehicles. And they didn’t tell me my offence. I don’t understand when it became a crime to walk around 8 pm. The government should stop the criminal activity of the Olosan police officers in Mushin.

    “They are terrorising us, extorting us and in fact kidnapping people under the pretext that some landlords lodged complaints to them about hoodlums stealing in the area. A claim the landlords refuted. They just raid innocent people who they know will get people to bail them out.

    Corroborating the story, Saheed said the policemen refused to see his identity card, which he was bringing out of his wallet.

    “This has been happening in this area for some time. Once it’s 7:30 pm, policemen from Olosan will be roaming in Danfo bus looking for prey. I have been hearing of it but I never knew it could happen to me.

    “They first claimed they were taking us to Alausa Mobile Court. I asked them what we did; they did not say anything. I brought out my identity card to show them that we were coming from work and going home but they refused to listen. They forced us inside the bus with so many people. More than 15 people were in the bus.

    “At the police station, they just dumped us inside the cell. No statement was taken from any of us. After a while, they said we should start calling our family to bring money for our bail. Some people were bailed with N5,000, others N3,000. While I was there, about six people came and paid for their relatives.

    “I was held in the cell till about 10:45 pm because I told them I do not have money. I think they released the two of us when they discovered that journalists came for us. Even after myself and Kayode were released, about five persons were still inside the cell because no one came for their bail,” he said.

    According to one of the vigilantes in Aladesuru Street, the Olosan officers have arrested many people in the area.

    “Last week they arrested one person here. He just got back from the university. He saw his friend off that Sunday; when he was coming back they blocked him and took him away.

    “It was the father that came to us around past 10 pm that we should wait around to open the gate for them when they come back. They came back around 3 am that day, after they paid N3,000,” he said.

    A landlord in Papa-Ajao, who simply identified himself as Olutoke, said there was no time the Landlord Association petitioned the police.

    He said: “How can we ask the police to arrest anybody they see after 8 pm. What if they arrest my child? It is not true. They just raid the area for money.”

    At the police station, The Nation observed that a certain Oga Yellow was bent on collecting money from the victims.

    It was observed that Oga Yellow, who apparently was in charge of the new ‘prey’ refused to let the victims go despite being told to do so by an inspector.

    “Oga, they must leave money for petrol, because we fuelled the motor before going out,” he screamed.

    Also, a sergeant was seen shouting at a man who came for his brother, also illegally arrested for offering “small money”.

    A food seller and some men were arrested at Oremeji Street and taken to those stations. Those who had money on them were released. Others had to call their family to bail them for “committing no offence.”

    “What the police are saying is that we cannot move freely in our area in the night. Even, the woman who sells food for us was arrested. This is another form of robbery by the police. I hope the police commissioner and Lagos State government will call these people to order,” Seye Ololade said.

    Contacted on phone, the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, got angry that the reporter was calling him for such a “mundane issue”. Policemen, he said, should be allowed to do their job.

  • Agents accuse Customsmen of extortion

    The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has threatened to shut the ports, if the Federal Government fails to stop Customsmen from allegedly extorting its members.

    Speaking with The Nation, its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kayode Farinto, also condemned the alleged extortion by other agencies, such as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Plant Quarantine Service and the police.

    The group said: “We want to inform the Federal Government and the general public that ANLCA may seek self-help by withdrawing our services from the ports until the unchecked extortion in the port is stopped.”

    It alleged that in the last eight months, its members have been constantly extorted by Customs’ officers and there has not been any intervention from the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC).

    ANLCA noted that the Pre-arrival Assessment Reports (PAAR) was a good innovation of the last administration of Customs under Abdullahi Dikko, but the PAAR has been bastardised under Alli.

    “Agents, unlike before now, cannot state precisely how much they can use to clear cargoes from the port because of the preponderance  of extortion and interventions by various units of Customs, including valuation, query and amendments, CIU and so on.

    “We now have situations whereby more than one PAAR is issued on one consignment and the PAAR is constantly queried,” they said.

    ANLCA also alleged that the Plant Quarantine usually stops the release of imported consignment under various excuses.

    “We now have a situation where different department of Police now write to stop the release of cargoes under the pretence that they were investigating cases of stealing, false declaration and forgery.

    The group urged the Federal Government and the Ministers of Finance and Transport to investigate the matter.

  • NERC warns DisCos against extortion

    NERC warns DisCos against extortion

    The National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has threatened to sanction Distribution Companies (DisCos) which extort consumers before supplying them transformers and other power distribution accessories.

    Its Acting Chairman, Dr Anthony Akah gave the warning yesterday, during the commissioning of the Ebonyi State Consumer Complaints Forum Office in Abakaliki.

    He said it was a criminal offence for DisCos to charge money to replace transformers and other power distribution accessories.

    “The Commission will punish DisCos caught in such act to the full weight of the law. This can include fines and even revocation of licenses depending on the magnitude of the offence,” he warned.

    He debunked the allegation that the commission is a toothless bulldog, adding that the sanction of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company and others has proved that the commission cannot only bark, but can also bite.

  • Accreditation by extortion?

    Accreditation by extortion?

    • Charges of bribery against the NUC should be investigated

    Recent accusations that the accreditation of university programmes carried out by the National Universities Commission (NUC) is riddled with corrupt practices are a troubling reminder of the depths to which tertiary education in Nigeria has sunk and the urgent measures required to redeem it.

    The allegation was made by Professor Oyewale Tomori, President of the Nigerian Academy of Sciences (NAS), at a Pre-Convocation Lecture he delivered at the University of Abuja on February 26. Tomori deplored what he considered to be the NUC’s apparent indifference to purported corruption in accreditation exercises. The commission, he claimed, often responded to such accusations by pointing out that those who gave and took such bribes were colleagues of those making the allegations.

    In addition to being head of Nigeria’s foremost scientific learned body, Professor Tomori was Vice-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University for seven years, and is a distinguished scholar in his own right. His allegations therefore cannot be taken with a pinch of salt. Indeed, in the same lecture, he regaled his audience with his own experiences as vice-chancellor, when he was compelled by the NUC to pay far more than he should have for an accreditation team which visited his institution.

    There is little doubt of the existence of university-based corruption. It is evident in admissions racketeering, the sale of handouts and other educational materials, payments for marks in cash or in kind, widespread examination malpractice and other vices.

    The NUC’s involvement in university-related corrupt practices is another matter entirely. As regulator of the Nigerian university system, the commission’s influence for good or bad far outweighs that of any other stakeholder. Accreditation exercises tainted by corruption are capable of undermining the entire tertiary education system, and by extension, the larger society. A medical sciences programme which gets unmerited accreditation, for instance, is very likely to unleash poorly-trained medical professionals on an unsuspecting population.

    Professor Tomori spoke of universities temporarily hiring academics solely for the purpose of meeting the required staff-student and staff-mix ratios during accreditation exercises. He referred to members of accreditation teams receiving bribes from university administrations in order to ensure that they scaled through the accreditation process.

    These are serious charges, and they should be backed up by concrete evidence. Which universities paid bribes to members of accreditation teams? When were the bribes received? Which members of the accreditation teams received them? Can the inevitable disconnect between accreditation “success” and objective realities on the ground be spelt out in detail for particular university programmes in specific universities?

    Such evidence should be put together with the scientific rigour and precision that NAS is known for, and passed on to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further action. The Buhari administration has shown that it will not hesitate to prosecute acts of corruption, regardless of whom the culprits may be; it is for NAS and Tomori to provide it with the means to do so.

    As for the NUC, it must demonstrate greater awareness of its duties as regulator. If it cannot guarantee that its accreditation and other quality-control measures are carried out transparently, efficiently and objectively, it is useless. Accreditation exercises are not opportunities for favoured academics to make money, or for undeserving institutions to obtain plaudits that they clearly do not merit. They are meant to ensure that universities attain and maintain the minimum standards expected of them, and therefore they should not be compromised under any circumstances whatsoever.

     

  • Extortion: Nigerian Army dismisses five Soldiers

    Extortion: Nigerian Army dismisses five Soldiers

    The Commander of the Guard Brigade, Brigadier General M.S. Yusuf has disclosed that five soldiers attached to the 176 Brigade Command of the Nigerian Army have been dismissed from service.

    The soldiers according to the Brigade Commander were dismissed for extorting money from people. “I want to inform you that five soldiers attached to the 176 Brigade Command in Gwagwalada Abuja, were dismissed recently for collecting money from members of the public.

    “This has become necessary because we want the best from our soldiers, and this can only be achieved if we have good understanding with other citizens of Nigerians, as it would help in bridging the gap between us and the civilians.”

    Brigadier Yusuf said the entitlements of all the soldiers on guard in the various formations in the country, are always paid upfront before they are deployed and based on this. We would not tolerate anyone of them collecting any gratification whatsoever from people. We do everything possible to make them conducive at their place of primary assignments,” he said.

    He however challenged the National Orientation Agency to also work out modalities of educating the civilian publics on their relationship with the military.

    He appealed for the support of the media in bridging the gap between the military and civilian.

    Brigadier General Yusuf spoke in Abuja on Tuesday during an interactive meeting with journalists in his office.

  • Keke Napep drivers accuse police, union of extortion

    Keke Napep drivers accuse police, union of extortion

    COMMERCIAL tricyclists (Keke Napep) at Cele Bus stop on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway have protested against an alleged extortion by their union’s leadership, the police and Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officials.

    There was a renewed clash between the tricyclists and their leadership at Cele Bus stop yesterday.

    Most of the drivers parked their tricycles and refused to work.

    “They make us suffer for no just cause because half of the money we make daily goes to the union, the Police and LASTMA officials, among others,” a tricyclist said.

    A Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) official told The Nation that the tricyclists and their leaders have been quarrelling.

    He said: “The Keke drivers started this fight because they claim they are being ripped off by their association. During the protest, the police in Cele brought more policemen from their Divisional Headquarters to contain the situation. Hours later, we heard sound of gun shots fired by the policemen to scare away the protesters after which the police left one of their vehicles here to monitor the situation.”

    Kenechukwu Uwadi, a tricyclist, said he had been in business for more than three years. He said when he started, two tickets were issued and they later rose to three. He said N100 was written on two tickets, while the third bears N50. Now, he said they were paying N600 for N250 tickets.

    Uwadi said: “The daily charges kept increasing, from N600 to N1,000 within the space of three years and presently N1,500 excluding other charges which we are being forced to pay totalling N3,000.

    “You can imagine, we pay N3000 and get N250 receipts, but we don’t have the power to confront them and meetings are not held for our opinions to be heard.”

    Kehinde Anjola, another tricyclist said despite the charges, the union does not come to their aid when they are in trouble.

    Anjola said: “If one of us is in trouble with any of the government agencies and you complain to the officials or union, what they would tell us is that it is our business we should go and settle it ourselves.

    “Most of us are family men and on hire purchase, we pay the union nothing less than N3,000, pay tricycle owner N3,000, buy fuel about N2,000 and we are allowed to only go to Ago, how much will I take home as a family man?

    “These people are using us as slaves, stepping on us at will and we must pay the money. The officials are very lazy and cannot work, if you ask them to do what we are doing, they can’t.”

  • Calabar traders protest extortion, harassment

    Calabar traders protest extortion, harassment

    Commercial activities in Calabar,  the Cross River State capital, were  slowed down  at the popular Etim Edem Motor Park as traders locked their shops in protest against the management of the park for alleged incessant battering, extortion and harassments.

    The traders under the umbrella, Etim Edem Traders Welfare Association, led by their Chairman, Comrade Etim Akpan took to the streets adjoining the market to call on the Calabar South Local Government Council Chairman, Mrs Majorie Asuquo to sack of the management of the park led by Michael Mesembe.

    The traders who said they have endured the constant humiliation of their executive members by the park managers for long without complaining, erupted into protest after the secretary of their association, Chukwu Emeka Eke was allegedly battered to a point of coma and one of his eyes injured.

    The traders insisted that either the park management is replaced or they would continue in their protest to persuade the relevant authorities to act.

    “It is better we are managed by armed robbers than by the present management where our members are daily subjected to battering, extortion, harassments and verbal assault by Imoh and his boys. We will continue to protest peacefully until the authorities that put him there acts on our demand,” Comrade Akpan said.

    The Chairman alleged that they are asked to pay sums ranging between N20, 000 to N30, 000 by the management of the park to even fix their own stalls.

    Akpan said, “The matter that resulted in the battering of Chukwu Emeka to a point of coma follows the demand from management of the park that every trader who displays goods outside his stall should pay the sum of N20,000 in addition to the amount paid for each stall and when one of the traders insisted on not paying his goods were destroyed by Imoh, the operations officer of the park and his boys  which resulted in a scuffle and when the secretary went to find out what was wrong, he was attacked.

    “Imoh brought out his chest and started with me and rained all sorts of abuses on me and there is nobody that can contend with him and when the secretary came, he did not join issues with them but simply asked what the matter was and Imoh and five of his boys started to assault  him  and threw him on the concrete floor and continued to beat him until  the liquid in his eyes came out”.

    The traders who took the protest to the nearby Atakpa Police Station were addressed the Divisional Police Officer for the Division, DSP Rasheed, and the Chairman of Calabar South Local Government Council, Majorie Asuquo.

    The DPO said Imoh and his colleagues who battered the trader would be charged to court.

    The council chairman said it was unfortunate that the park management which was instituted to take charge of motor vehicles in the park  had over stepped it bounds by meddling into the activities of traders just to extort money from them.

    “Each time I wanted anything from the traders I always write to them through their association and  have not sent anybody to terrorise or extort money from them and this  must stop and I am going to ensure that drastic changes are effected in the market immediately to put pay to ugly situations like this,” she said.

    She appealed to the traders to resume normal business activities while she undertakes the process of carrying out reforms in the market.