Police chief orders trial of officers who allegedly used POS machine to extort motorists

Cases of police brutality, extortion, extrajudicial killings and other unprofessional activities in Nigeria have continued despite sanctions such as dismissal from service.

The Commissioner of Police in Delta State, Yemi Oyeniyi, has ordered the “orderly room trial” of two police officers for allegedly using a Point of Sales (PoS) Machine to extort motorists inside a police station.

The police spokesperson in the state, Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

Mr Edafe, a superintendent of police, said the incident occurred on 13 January.

PREMIUM TIMES understands that the police chief’s directive followed a video clip uploaded on Facebook by human rights activist Harrison Gwaminshu on Wednesday night.

Mr Gwaminshu claimed in the clip that officers serving at the ‘C’ Police Divisional Headquarters in Asaba have a “functional POS operator” which they use to extort the residents in the area.

He alleged that every police officer in the station, including the Divisional Police Officer, is involved in the act.

The activist uploaded a separate video clip which showed a police officer in an office asking a supposed motorist to drop his mobile phone, apparently disturbed that the motorist might film them while they were extorting him.

“Keep the phone here, drop the phone. I will deal with you. We are not mates,” the officer is seen in the clip speaking angrily in Pidgin English.

The motorist, who appeared to have been forced into the station alongside his vehicle, was heard arguing that he had no reason to drop his phone.

While the altercation was on, two other police officers walked into the office alongside a POS operator.

The motorist subsequently dropped his mobile phone on the table and began negotiating the amount he would transfer to the officers to secure his release.

The clip did not show the officers telling the motorist the offence he committed.

“Sir, I will give you N40,000,” the motorist told the officer, but one of them refused, insisting that the motorist must transfer N50,000 to them.

The motorist later transferred a total of N51,500 to the POS operator.

In the Thursday statement, Mr Edafe stressed that the action of the police officers in the video was not only embarrassing but also unprofessional.

The spokesperson suggested that the officers’ conduct was likely to put the Nigeria Police Force in disrepute.

He said police authorities in the state have condemned the act as no citizen deserved to be treated in such a manner by the police.

Mr Edafe stressed that the act by the officers was “inexcusable and unpardonable.”

“The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, Yemi Oyeniyi, aligns firmly with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, which expressly prohibits extortion, and also the use of POS machines or any electronic payment platforms for transactions within Police formation,” he said.

The spokesperson said the police commissioner has emphasised that no officer was authorised to demand or receive money from any Nigerian under any guise.

He said the orderly room trial of the two officers has commenced, and that the outcome would be made public.

Mr Edafe said Mr Oyeniyi reminded all officers that extortion and abuse of office would not be tolerated under his watch.

“Officers are expected to carry out their duties professionally and treat members of the public with respect,” he quoted the police commissioner as saying.

The spokesperson said the police chief has tasked officers and men to uphold the tenets of professional policing in the discharge of their duties with respect to fundamental human rights of all citizens, in accordance with Nigerian laws.

According to him, the disciplinary actions taken against the erring officers will serve as a deterrent to others.

Cases of police brutality, extortion, extrajudicial killings and other unprofessional activities in Nigeria have continued despite sanctions such as dismissal from service.

The latest incident occurred less than three weeks after some police officers in Anambra State illegally arrested, tortured and extorted N1.4 million from some Nigerians.

The money was later refunded to the victims following public outrage.

Last month, police in Anambra State arrested and detained six senior officers who allegedly tortured and extorted N200,000 from a trader in Onitsha, the commercial hub of Anambra.