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Police task force commander arrested over N100,000 bribe

The police warned the public to stop inducing officers with money.

• November 22, 2020
Nigerian police officers used to illustrate the story
Police officer used to illustrate the story

The leader of a task force team operating around Lekki Ajah area of Lagos State, Popoola Kayode, and his team members have been arrested for collecting N100,000 bribe.

Spokesman of the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit, Adebayo Taofiq, said this in a statement on Sunday made available to reporters in Lagos.

Mr. Taofiq said that the bribe was paid by one Didi Ekanem, the owner of a Toyota Venza with registration number: APP 775 GJ who was caught driving against traffic (one-way) around Lekki Ajah Expressway.

He explained that the statement was necessitated in response to a story published on a November 22 edition of Sunday Punch Newspaper, with the caption “Taskforce Commander Made Sexual Advances At Me – Didi Ekanem”.

“The leader of the team, Kayode is not the Commander of the Agency as quoted in the report which said that the money (N100,000) was collected via bank transfer to his (Kayode) account,” Mr. Taofiq said. “After the transfer, the vehicle was then released to Ekanem.”

He said that the Chairman of the Agency, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi upon investigation of the incident which happened on Wednesday, November 18 immediately arrested Mr. Kayode and his team members.

“They will be sent back to the Lagos State Police Command for further disciplinary actions,” the unit head said.

The spokesman said that Mr. Egbeyemi thereby warned motorists, particularly private car owners and motorcycle operators to desist from driving against traffic (one-way).

He said that anyone caught would be charged to the Lagos State Mobile Court for prosecution.

“Members of the public should stop inducing our officers with money and be reminded that both the giver and receiver are liable in Law.

“It is only Court that pronounces traffic fines and money that will be paid into government purse,” Mr. Taofiq quoted Mr. Egbeyemi as saying.

Mr. Taofiq, however, urged members of the public to always report any corrupt officer who engaged in shady deals thereby spoiling the image of the agency for disciplinary actions. 

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