BEVERLY HILLS, July 24, (THEWILL) -The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris has dismissed three policemen from the Nigeria Police Force for their involvement in illegal arrest and detention of some people.
The dismissed personnel; AP.No 136005 Inspr. Okelue Nkemeonye, F/No. 355897 Sgt. BraimohSundayand F/No. 359928 Sgt. Yusuf Olukoga were attached to Area Command Ijede-Ikorodu under Lagos State Command.
The men, who were armed, pretended to be members of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and harassed their victims and collected N200, 000 from them before they were released.
According to a statement in Abuja,on Monday, by the Officer in charge of the Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU), Abayomi Shogunle, the personnel tagged their victims Internet fraudsters and intimidated them.
Shogunle said investigation revealed that the policemen collected N90,000 through ATM withdrawal and N110,000 through mobile bank money transfer to a third party account provided by the policemen.
Shogunle also stated that the officers were found guilty and dismissed after they appeared at Orderly Room trial at the Zone Two Command Headquarters, Onikan-Yaba, Lagos.
He revealed that the Adjudicating officer found them guilty on two charges of offence against discipline as provided for in paragraphs C (ii) Corrupt Practices and E (iii) Discreditable Conduct of the First Schedule of Police Act and Regulations Cap. P19. Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“On the 21st June, 2017 the Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU) received a complaint via WhatsApp number 0805 700 0003,” Shogunle said.
“The complaint reads: I went to the bank this morning to deposit money to a Company’s account but there was no network so I deposited the money into my personal account to do the transfer to the account later.
“When I came out of the bank, a car packed full of some SARS policemen wearing black cloth with anti-robbery squad written at the back. I was told to enter the vehicle with a gun pointed at me.
“They collected my mobile phone and asked me what I do for a living, I told them that I had just finished my youth service and I am living with my brother and I pointed my brother’s shop for them to stop by and see him because he was the one that sent me to the bank, they refused to wait and they did not allow me to pick my calls and call out.
“I received an alert on my phone with the money I went to deposit. They searched my phone and on seeing the alert, they labelled me a yahoo boy and told me that I would pay them N1Million.
“One of them slapped me, they drove us around places in Ikorodu,Ijede, Gberigbe, Ibeshe, Igbe, Ikpakodo, Itaelewa, Agric and first gate harassing people, moving them in the car and collecting huge amount from them.
“They collected N50,000.00 from me but I noticed that each junctions that we reached, people were hailing their leader by his nickname (OJ. Ojewunmi). And one by name Austin slapped me.
“They picked me up around9amand dropped me6pmin the evening after collecting money from me. They also used my account to collect money from the guys that I met in the car and used my ATM to withdraw from them.”
Shogunle said his team was dispatched to Ikorodu where all the three dismissed policemen including AP No. 98199 ASP Bayo Obadia who led the team were apprehended adding that preliminary investigation by the Unit revealed that all the allegations contained in the complaint sent via WhatsApp message actually happened.
“All the arrested officers, witnesses and recovered exhibits including the N200,000 cash and printed bank statement of account were handed over to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2 Lagos for further detailed investigation and necessary disciplinary measures,” he continued.
“The approval of the punishment of dismissal from service as recommended by the Adjudicating officer is part of the outcome of the disciplinary measures.
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