Lagos police confirm arrest of officer in viral extortion video

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP) Fatai Tijani has confirmed the detention of an officer identified as Samson E, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), over alleged extortion at Idimu.

Tijani confirmed the detention of the senior police man in a message to The Nation where he said disciplinary procedures had commenced in the case.

A video that went viral yesterday showed the policeman sitting on the front passenger seat of the motorist’s vehicle and counting wads of naira notes allegedly extorted from the driver.

According to the narration by the victim, he was accosted by the policeman who requested his vehicle particulars and they were handed over to him.

He said rather than return the documents after seeing that they were complete and correct, the policeman proceeded to allege that the colour of his car didn’t match what was on the particulars.

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“My car is ash. What’s written in the particulars is ash. The officer said my vehicle is grey. I told him I do not have time for the issue he was trying to raise since I have a couple of errands to run but he threatened to delay me and impound my vehicle,” said the motorist.

Seeing that the policeman was adamant, the motorist said they started negotiating with the officer demanding N30,000 bribe from him, which was later reduced to N10, 000.

The driver said he appealed to the policeman that the N10, 000 he wanted to collect was the only money he had but his pleas fell on deaf ears as the officer counted the money in his car before alighting.

Unknown to the policeman, he was being recorded by the driver who eventually shared evidence of his encounter online.

It was gathered that as soon as the incident got to the notice of the Area Commander, ACP Tokunbo Abaniwonda, she directed his arrest and handover to the X-Sqaud of the police command.

Tijani said the officer was in custody and facing disciplinary procedures.

The command also confirmed his arrest in a statement released on X, saying: “The officer seen in the viral video as posted by #epiccycl has been identified, arrested, detained and queried. The LagosPoliceNG will provide the full outcome of the investigation as soon as possible.”