Joy Anyim
The Lagos Commissioner of Police, CP Imohimi Edgal, has ordered for the arrest of four policemen attached to the Ijanikin Police Division for allegedly robbing a Nigerian based in the Republic of Togo of N350,000 CFA.
The victim, Mr. Theodore Ifunnaya, was reportedly returning to Nigeria for the festive holiday, on Monday, December 17, when he was accosted by the policemen at Iyana-Era Bus Stop along Badagry Expressway.
The Policemen whose identities were given as Insp. Victor Amiete, Sgt. Gbemunu Samuel, Sgt. Afolabi Oluwaseun and Cpl. Adigun Omotayo had on the said day embarked on a routine stop and search.
It was learnt that the policemen who stopped the victim’s vehicle had asked him for his vehicle particulars and further subjected the victim to a tortuous searching and interrogation, after which they discovered the huge sum of money with him.
Reports have it that the policemen had bundled Ifunnaya in their waiting patrol vehicle to Ijanikin police Division, where he was stripped naked and photographed.
Telling his own side of the story, Ifunnaya said, “ After much torture and humiliation, the officers seized my money and invited a Bureau de Change to the Division, who exchanged the CFA currency into its naira equivalent.
“They gave me N2000 to disappear from the station and threatened to release my nude pictures if I told anyone of the incident.”
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Findings revealed that the policemen had threatened to use the nude photographs of the victim on social Media as well as arraign him in court for Cultism and Armed robbery.
Having gained freedom from his alleged police captors, Ifunnaya was said to have narrated his ordeal to his family members, who reported the incident to the Area Commander, Area’ K’, ACP Hope Okafor.
The Area Commander was said to have intervened by recovering the said stolen Money and arresting the erring police officers.
Ifunnaya further appreciated the Area Commander for intervening. He also said he had relocated out of Lagos for fear that the colleagues and friends of the officers would come after him.
Contacted for comments, the Lagos Police Public Relation Officer, CSP Chike Oti said it was not a case of robbery but a case of corrupt practice and shoddy investigation
He said, “ The Commissioner of Police has directed the head of the Command’s Provost Section to arrest, investigate and try the officers involved in orderly room and if found guilty, appropriate punishment will be meted to them.
“In the same token, the CP has directed that the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Ijanikin division be issued with a query and if his response is not acceptable, his conduct will be reported to the Inspector General of Police for necessary action.”
