22nd January, 2021
By Benson Michael
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested four police inspectors who allegedly harassed and extorted N70,000 from a 16-year-old student, Segun.
The four policemen were alleged to have carried out the act on 18th January, 2021, 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 the social media which attracted the Complaint Response Unit of the Nigeria Police Force, Force Headquarters Abuja, to track the policemen for necessary police action.
A statement issued by Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Muyiwa Adejobi on Friday said the matter was subsequently referred to the Lagos State Police Command for further action.
The police Inspectors arrested are: Inspr Emmanuel Michael, 40; Inspr Subday Odubiyi, 40; Inspr Lawrence Amedu, 39 and Inspr Aroye Dickson, 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,” the statement said.
The statement added that the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu, has 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, IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, NPM, mni.
“He has however ordered for the orderly room trial of the Inspectors with immediate effect so as to serve as deterrent to other criminally-minded police personnel in the command and beyond.
“CP Hakeem Odumosu also warned officers and men in Lagos State that the command will spread its tentacles in fighting against such criminal, unprofessional and disgusting act amongst police personnel in Lagos State.
“He also assured the general public of people-oriented and community-based policing styles in Lagos State, as justice will be done in Segun’s case,” the statement said.