Special Report
By George Ozalla
The arrest of four policemen attached to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command for allegedly extorting ₦53,000 from the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), has reopened a troubling conversation about a problem that has lingered within the Nigeria Police Force despite years of reforms, disciplinary measures and repeated directives from successive police leaderships.
According to the FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, the officers abandoned their approved duty posts and converged around the Banex area of Abuja, where they mounted an illegal operation targeting unsuspecting motorists. Unknown to them, one of the motorists they stopped was the nation’s anti-corruption chief. The Commissioner disclosed that the officers allegedly compelled Dr. Aliyu to withdraw ₦53,000 through a Point of Sale (POS) operator. After collecting the money, they reportedly shared it among themselves. Following a complaint and subsequent investigation, detectives arrested the alleged leader of the group before apprehending the remaining officers.
Describing their conduct as criminal and disgraceful, Sanusi said the command would ensure the officers face the appropriate disciplinary process, including dismissal where necessary. He also reiterated that no police officer has the authority to stop citizens indiscriminately to search their mobile phones or demand money under any guise.
The swift response by the FCT Police Command has attracted commendation. However, beyond the arrests lies a deeper issue that has continued to confront the Nigeria Police Force for decades. The latest incident became national news because the victim occupies one of the highest public offices in Nigeria’s anti-corruption architecture. Had the same officers allegedly extorted a commercial driver, a trader, a student or a civil servant, the incident might never have gone beyond a private complaint.
That is what makes this case particularly significant.
Victims of police extortion are not always influential public figures. They are ordinary Nigerians travelling to work, transporting goods, visiting their families or simply trying to reach their destinations without unnecessary harassment. Many motorists have recounted experiences of being stopped at checkpoints where demands are made for “something for the boys,” “weekend” or “fuel money.” Some choose to argue, others refuse outright, while many quietly part with cash simply to avoid delay, intimidation or threats of being taken to a police station.
Commercial drivers, especially those who ply inter-state and intra-city routes, are among those who speak most frequently about the practice. Some openly admit that they keep small denominations within reach because they consider such illegal payments part of the cost of doing business. Whether these accounts are reported formally or not, they have shaped public perception of policing in many parts of the country.
The complaints do not end on the highways. Citizens have also alleged over the years that some police personnel demand unofficial payments before recording statements, processing documents or attending to complaints at police stations. Officially, the Nigeria Police Force maintains that bail is free and that officers who demand money from members of the public will be sanctioned. Yet allegations of illegal collections continue to surface.
It would be unrealistic to suggest that every police officer engages in extortion. Thousands of officers discharge their responsibilities professionally, often under dangerous conditions, and many have paid the ultimate price protecting lives and property. Their commitment is frequently overshadowed by the misconduct of a minority whose actions continue to erode public confidence in the institution.
The persistence of extortion allegations has inevitably raised questions about why the problem has survived several administrations within the Force. Every Inspector General of Police has promised to tackle corruption. Directives have been issued against illegal roadblocks, unauthorized stop-and-search operations and indiscriminate searches of mobile phones. Monitoring units have been created, complaint channels strengthened and erring officers dismissed or prosecuted. Despite those efforts, allegations of extortion continue to emerge.
The Banex incident suggests that disciplinary action, on its own, has not solved the problem. Punishing officers after complaints are made is necessary, but preventing such misconduct before it occurs is equally important. Stronger supervision of patrol teams, more effective internal monitoring, prompt investigation of complaints, and the deployment of technology to monitor officers on patrol and track field operations are measures that deserve greater attention.
Even as this report goes to press, there is every possibility that somewhere in Nigeria another motorist is confronting an unlawful demand for money at a checkpoint, while someone else may be facing a similar experience inside a police station. Those incidents may never become newspaper headlines. Many victims simply pay, walk away and carry on with their lives.
The alleged extortion of the ICPC Chairman became public because the victim was easily identifiable and the complaint attracted immediate attention. Countless other Nigerians may not enjoy the same level of visibility.
Ironically, the alleged victim in this case heads the very institution charged with investigating corruption in public offices. The incident therefore goes beyond the embarrassment of one public official. It raises broader concerns about public confidence in institutions entrusted with enforcing the law and protecting citizens.
The FCT Police Command has promised that the officers will face the consequences of their actions. Nigerians have heard similar assurances before. What they now expect is evidence that this case will mark more than another round of arrests and promises.
The officers allegedly extorted the Chairman of the ICPC because they believed they had stopped just another motorist. That mistaken identity exposed a problem countless Nigerians say they have encountered for years.
The question now is whether this scandal will trigger lasting change or simply become another headline before the next extortion case emerges.
