IG orders arrest of DSP, ASPs for extortion

Police at the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon, Lagos, have arrested a Deputy Superintendent of Police attached to Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department for an alleged extortion of N400,000.
Others arrested and detained with the police officer were two assistant superintendents of police.
Police sources said the arrest of the three officers was at the instance of the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar.
The IG ordered the arrest after a petition by Baale of Cardoso, Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area, Lagos, Chief Moroof Owonla.
PUNCH Metro on Thursday March 28, 2013 published reported that the community leader had alleged in the petition that the officers extorted the sum of N400,000 from him under “intense” pressure to enable them to effect the release of Owonla’s brothers detained at the division.
It was learnt that the ASPs were arrested by by men from Federal X-Squad after they allegedly collected another N100,000 from Owonla.
The marked N100,000 was supposed to be the balance of the N500,000 they allegedly demanded from the Baale.
It was learnt that the N500,000 was recovered intact in the DSP’s office.
A source told Punch Metro that the ASP’s were initially arrested, while the DSP was arrested after he reported at the X-Squad on invitation.
He was said to have been detained after writing his statement.
A police source on Wednesday said the officers had been released, while the money had been returned to the Baale.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Force CID, Alagbon, Lagos, Mr. Friday Archibong, however, claimed ignorance of the case.
He said, “I met the woman in charge of X-Squad but she said there was nothing like that.”
When interrogated further, he became furious, saying, “Come to Alagbon and I will direct you to the officer in charge for you to confirm.”
But Owonla told PUNCH Metro that he was happy the police authorities in Abuja had intervened in the matter.