2nd November, 2015
Cyriacus Izuekwe
A 33-year-old jobless man who has been parading himself as a mobile policeman (MOPOL) has been arrested by the police while he was extorting money from motorists wearing police uniform in Lagos State, western Nigeria.
The suspect, Abah Arome, was arrested around Iyana-Ipaja wearing a Mobile Police uniform where he caused traffic jam and extorted money from the motorists.
While he was busy doing that, a police patrol team accosted him and inquired from him his unit or the division he was attached to.
When he could not give any satisfactory answer, he was arrested and taken to Area ‘M’ Police Command, Idimu where he was detained.
During interogation, he confessed that he was not a policeman and explained that he stole the uniform from his brother who is a serving MOPOL.
He explained that he was using the uniform to make quick money from motorists to survive because he had no job.
Arome was charged with impersonation and extortion under the Criminal Code.
He pleaded not guilty.
The presiding Magistrate, Mr A. A. Fashola granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum.
He was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail.
The court ordered that the surety must show evidence of payment of three years tax.
The matter was adjourned till 23 November, 2015.