Lagos police demanded bribes in pound but finally accepted N20k – Victim

Some police officers in Lagos allegedly extorted three funseekers of N20, 000 after a period of haggling.

The Foundation for Investigative Journalism, which originally published the story, reported that the a police patrol team had pulled up infront of the private taxi conveying the three, all-male funseekers at the Allen Avenue area of Lagos.

The victims, namely Oghenekaro,  Oghenekesiri and Oghenekefe Bruno, had just returned from their UK base and were out to get some barbecued meat (suya).

On leaving the Suya spot, the victims  encountered the police team, who hauled one of them into their hilux truck. Some other officers jumped into the taxi along with the two other victims, a practice common with Nigerian law enforcement.

One of the victims, Oghenekaro said: “They said they were taking us to their command, and that was when we decided to call Tijani to let him know where we were, and also call a senior policeman to intervene.

“This policeman spoke to them, and told them to let them go, but after the call was over, they began asking why I involved their superior. One of them took me out of the vehicle, and to a corner. He said regardless of the superior’s intervention, they could shoot us dead there and nothing would happen.”

The police officers reportedly demanded for a bribes in pound sterlings (UK currency) but opted for naira after the victims told them they had no foreign currency.

The police officers then asked for N200, 000 before they could set their preys free but eventually settled for N20, 000.

The victims said they wired the agreed sum into an account provided by the rogue law enforcement. The receiver, Ademola Ajibade, is believed to work in cahoots with the bribe-demanding officers.

FIJ alleged Benjamin Hundeyin, who speaks for the Lagos police command, shunned its request for a comment.

TheCornet reports that police extortion and harrassment are common in Nigeria, however the present police leadership continues to punish errant officers involved in such corrupt practices. In recent cases, victims were restituted while culprits are disciplined in line with Police standards operating procedures.