The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested four police officers accused of forcing the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Aliyu (SAN), to part with ₦53,000 at an illegal checkpoint in Abuja.

The officers, who allegedly had no idea they were dealing with the nation’s anti-corruption chief, reportedly compelled Aliyu to withdraw the money from a nearby Point of Sale (POS) operator before sharing the proceeds among themselves.

FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, disclosed the incident on Monday while briefing journalists in Abuja, describing the officers as “criminals” who have no place in the Nigeria Police Force.

According to Sanusi, the officers abandoned their official duty posts and converged around the Banex area of Wuse, where they mounted an unauthorised stop-and-search checkpoint to extort motorists.

He said the ICPC chairman became one of their victims after they stopped him and demanded money.

“They extorted the Chairman of the ICPC of ₦53,000. They took him to a POS, he withdrew the money, paid the charges and they shared the money among themselves,” Sanusi said.

The commissioner said investigations showed that the officers had formed an extortion syndicate, operating outside their assigned duty posts to prey on unsuspecting road users.

Following complaints, the command declared the suspects wanted before arresting the alleged gang leader, whose confession led detectives to the remaining three officers.

“We got all of them. We are going to make sure they are severely punished. Those that are going to be dismissed will definitely be dismissed,” Sanusi said.

The police boss reiterated that officers have no authority to stop members of the public and search their mobile phones during patrols, stressing that such practices remain prohibited under the directives of the Inspector-General of Police.

“You cannot stop anybody on the road and ask the person to bring out his phone for search. If any policeman stops you and asks to search your phone, don’t agree. Call the police emergency lines and we will ask them why,” he said.

Sanusi assured residents of the FCT that the command would continue to identify, investigate and punish officers involved in extortion, illegal checkpoints and other forms of misconduct, insisting that corrupt personnel would not be tolerated within the force.

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