Nigeria: Ghana-based Nigerian urges IG to prosecute policemen for N3m extortion

Nigerian businessman Liberty Isaac, who is based in Ghana, has requested Olukayode Egbetokun, the Inspector-General of Police, to bring charges against some police officers who he claims were abusing him and demanding N3 million at gunpoint in Bayelsa State.

Isaac revealed that he was confronted by several police officers on the Udi axis of the state, who had him unlock his phones. Isaac claimed he had come back to the nation in August 2024 to attend a friend’s traditional marriage ceremony.

He reported that the cops brutalised him and had him send N3 million to them in two installments using their account credentials after they saw a N10 million bank credit alert.

Isaac, who spoke to journalists in Owerri, the Imo State capital, on Saturday, revealed that his N3 million had been refunded to him by the leadership of the Zone 16 zonal command in Bayelsa State.

When he and his attorney visited the command on Friday, he said, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the zone released the money on bail to him.

He said that the rogue police officers should be punished even though they were given a refund since doing so would force other incompetent officers to resign and boost public trust in the Nigeria Police Force.

“It is true that I have received my N3 million back,” he stated. With God’s unique favour, the money was given to me on bond when my team and I visited the AIG Zone 16 in Bayelsa State on Friday, September 13. However, I am still pursuing justice. These police officers ought to be hired.

“This gesture has shown that the Nigeria Police Force is still a friend, even though we know there are bad eggs among them, there are also good ones. The IGP is determined to root out the corrupt ones. I am thankful to the AIG Zone 16 in Bayelsa and the Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa for their swift action in recovering my money. From what I have gathered, the IGP will, in due course, deliver justice to me.

“There is no doubt that ordinarily, this unfortunate incident would have made anyone lose interest and confidence in the country, but because I understand that there must be some betrayal in every group, I have chosen to believe that the Nigeria Police Force has both bad and good members. From what I have seen, the leadership of the force is committed to identifying and addressing the bad ones.”

He urged the public to speak out whenever confronted with such harassment, saying, “This unfortunate experience will not deter me from returning to Nigeria again. It has only strengthened my belief that Nigeria will improve one day if citizens speak out at every opportunity. Do not accept every crime that occurs as normal. Speak out, and the authorities will address it.

“I am standing here as a witness to this unfortunate experience and its outcome, despite my continued expectation that the IGP will deal with the perpetrators accordingly. The only delay was in handing over the money to me due to the circumstances, but after this incident, I believe that things can be properly managed in this country if we speak out as Nigerians.”

On Thursday, September 5, 2024, the Nigerian Police arrested the policemen involved in the extortion.

A tweet by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on X.com, read, “The policemen involved in this case of extortion of N3 million have been arrested. The men are attached to Zone 16 Command in Yenagoa. The command has been instructed to produce the men at the FHQ.

“The FHQ will continue to sanitise the system and ensure justice is done in all cases brought to its notice.”