Baale accuses policeman of extortion

The Baale of Cardoso in Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, Chief Morof Owonla, has raised the alarm over alleged extortion by a senior police officer at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba.

He has subsequently petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, to investigate the matter.

In the petition dated March 24, 2013, the Baale alleged that a superintendent of police, in charge of a sensitive department in the state CID took N400,000 from him under “serious pressure”.

Owonla, popularly known as Kaka said, “I travelled out of the country on Monday, March 11, 2013, and returned on Friday March 22, 2013 only to receive a call from the said police officer from the state C.I.D, that I should report at their office.

“The officer did not tell me why I was being invited. I later got to know that the police officer got my phone number from two of my brothers whom the officer had initially arrested and detained before I arrived from the United States.

“As a law-abiding citizen, I reported at the CID office in Yaba. There, I met the superintendent of police, oblivious of the arrest and detention of my brothers. When he told me that he had arrested my brothers, I asked what their offences were and he told me that he would only tell me their offences and release them if I could arrange N500,000 for him and his team.”

The community leader said he told him he could not afford such money.

Owonla said, “As soon as I told him I could not afford the money, he threatened and mounted pressure on me that he would implicate my brothers and make sure they rot in jail.

“He pressurised and threatened me to submission on Saturday, forcing me to provide N400, 000 without any justification.”

He further alleged that some people who had at one time or the other threatened and physically assaulted him were those influencing the unprofessional conduct of the officer in question.

He appealed to Abubakar to use his good offices to order an investigation into his allegation and bring the accused person to justice.

When contacted on the telephone, Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank Mba, said with the stream of mails received at the IG’s office, it was not easy to say whether the petition was sent or not.

“It is the petitioner that can say how he sent the petition – whether by courier, post or electronic means. By next week when the administrative office of the IG resumes, we will be able to say the state of affairs,” Mba said.
Punch