The Lagos State Police Command has commenced an investigation into an allegation that three policemen extorted money from a Lagos resident after accusing him of driving against traffic.
The motorist, identified as Nasir Ahmed, alleged that the officers stopped him along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway shortly after he left a filling station and ordered him to follow them.
According to Ahmed, the officers, who were travelling in a Korope bus, claimed he had violated a one-way traffic rule and initially demanded ₦500,000 for his release. He said the amount was later reduced to ₦250,000.
Ahmed alleged that the officers drove him through several areas, including Apapa, Mile 2, Oshodi, Ilupeju, Palmgrove and Onipanu, while demanding money from him.
He said one of the officers later instructed him to transfer ₦6,000 to an OPay account reportedly belonging to Lukumon Aro Olaseni. When another attempted transfer failed because of network problems, Ahmed said the officers took him to a POS stand in Ilupeju, where ₦50,000 was withdrawn from his account.
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The complainant subsequently reported the matter to the Lagos State Police Command’s Complaint Response Unit and submitted evidence, including transaction details and a photograph of one of the alleged officers.
The police confirmed that the complaint was under investigation. However, the command said it had not yet established a connection between one of the individuals identified by Ahmed and the police.
The Lagos State Police spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, said investigators had examined the accounts linked to the alleged payments and were taking further steps to determine what happened.
She also confirmed that the photograph supplied by Ahmed had been reviewed, adding that the command would contact him if a link was established or if he was required for identification.
The police Complaint Response Unit later told Ahmed that the investigation was still ongoing and that the command would get back to him.
The allegations remain under investigation, and no conclusion has been reached regarding the identities or conduct of the persons involved.
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