Four police officers serving under the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have been detained after they allegedly extorted N53,000 from the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) during an unauthorized stop-and-search operation in Abuja.
The Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, disclosed the incident while addressing journalists at the FCT Police Command headquarters on Monday.
According to him, the officers abandoned their assigned duty posts and mounted an illegal checkpoint around the Banex area in Wuse, where they stopped the ICPC chairman without recognizing who he was.
Sanusi said the officers allegedly forced the ICPC chairman to a nearby Point of Sale (POS) operator, where he withdrew N53,000, paid the transaction charges, and handed over the money. The officers were said to have shared the proceeds among themselves.
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The incident came to light after the ICPC chairman reported the matter to the police command, prompting an internal investigation that led to the arrest of the four officers.
Describing the suspects as criminal elements within the force, the police commissioner stressed that the command would not tolerate misconduct or abuse of office.
He assured residents of the FCT that officers found guilty of corruption or extortion would face disciplinary action, including dismissal where necessary.
Sanusi also urged members of the public to immediately report any case of police harassment, extortion, or other forms of misconduct through the command’s emergency channels, assuring that every complaint would be investigated.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to restoring public confidence in the police by ensuring accountability and professionalism among officers.
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