Monday, June 26, 2017

Policeman using POS for extortion: It’s not true



The Lagos State Police Command has denied that any of its officer’ was caught on camera, using POS machine to extort members of the public.


The policeman, attached to the Makinde Police Station was captured in a video at Olowora Street; Mafoluku area of Oshodi, Lagos, with a POS machine, which many believed was allegedly being used in extorting people. 

In the 30 seconds video, the policeman was seen standing with a motorbike cyclist and his passenger, and a transaction purportedly going on. 

Dressed in green and yellow traditional outfit with a brown and white cap, the passenger and the bike rider were seen talking with the policeman.

The video got many people wondering how a policeman could have applied for and got a POS, which could only be given out after proper registration. 

In a post on Instagram, one of the social media platforms, the Police Public Relations Officer of Zone 2 Police Command, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police, said the matter was under investigation.

Also reacting to the incident, the Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, said the allegation against the policeman was untrue.

According to him, the real fact was that the policeman was on a routine duty when he stopped a motorcyclist and his passenger, who was holding a bag. 

He said the policeman asked for the motorcyclist's papers, which he brought out. 

Famous-Cole said:  "The policeman then asked about the bag and its contents. The passenger said the content of the bag was POS and some documents.  The policeman asked how he got the machine and the passenger said it belonged to the company he works with. He said he had documents to back it. After that interaction, he returned the POS, the bag and the documents to the owner and they left."

Owing to the video being circulated, Cole said they had to fish out the policeman and then they invited the passenger back to the station for questioning. 

Cole said: "I am presently with the policeman and the motorcyclist. I have done a video of them and I will soon share it on all social media platforms."
In the short video released by Cole, the bike rider story tallied with Cole’s claim.
The bike rider said the policeman was on a stop and search duty and found the machine on his passenger. The passenger was later released.

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