The police have arrested one Inspector Charles Omotosho, an operative of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) over alleged extortion.
Omotosho was apprehended for allegedly arresting a lady in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State, after which he was said to have forcefully collected N5,000 from the victim.
The Police Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU) revealed this on Friday in its news bulletin through an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr Abayomi Shogunle.
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“On 16th May, 2018, the Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU) received a complaint from a citizen via Twitter [@ife_luv12] that a Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Operative forced her to make a bank transfer of Five Thousand Naira (N5,000) to the said SARS operative’s bank account following an arrest for no just cause.
“PCRRU immediately registered the case (Tracking Number PCRRU316356) and initiated an investigation. The officer was promptly identified to be Inspector Charles Omotosho attached to Federal SARS, Ikorodu, Lagos State,” the statement read.
The police unit revealed that Omotosho was immediately removed from front-line police duties and taken into custody after he was identified to have purportedly committed the crime.
It added that a copy of the officer’s statement of bank account was obtained and the entry of the said transfer was discovered therein in the course of a preliminary investigation.
PCRRU noted that it established that there was a contact between the officer’s patrol team and the complainant and others at Ikorodu as contained in the complaint.
Consequently, Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, directed the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command, Lagos to carry out a detailed investigation.
The IGP also ordered the AIG to commence the immediate necessary disciplinary action against Omotosho, as provided for in the Police Act and Regulations Cap. P19. Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
PCRRU said it has handed the erring officer to the AIG Zone 2 Command, Lagos together with a print out of his statement of bank account for necessary action while the outcome would be made public soon.
It, however, urged members of the public who are not happy with any encounter with the police not to resort to self-help but lodge a complaint at PCRRU via any of its readily available means.
The PCRRU channels are, “Calls Only: 0805 700 0001, 0805 700 0002 | SMS and WhatsApp Only: 0805 700 0003 | BBM: 58A2B5DE | Twitter: @PoliceNG_PCRRU |Facebook: www.facebook.com/PolicePCRRU | Email: [email protected] OR [email protected] | Website: www.npf.gov.ng/complaint.”
The police unit also vowed that any act of impunity by any of the force personnel would be resisted, maintaining that bail is free.