Police dismiss 2 traffic wardens for extortion in Abuja

THE Nigeria Police Force, on Tuesday, said it had dismissed two traffic wardens attached to the Wuse Police Division from service for extorting money from a motorist in Abuja.

The affected officers are: Musa Muktari with service F/No. 394120 and Shuaibu Sulieman with service F/No. 10627.

The Head, Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU), ACP Abayomi Shogunle, made this disclosure in statement in Abuja.

He said the dismissal followed an Orderly Room trial at the Provost Department, Force Headquarters, where they were found guilty of abuse of office, soliciting and receiving bribe, contrary to the police Act and Regulation of 1990.

Shogunle said that the unit immediately began an investigation as soon as the matter was reported to it on May 30 by the motorist.

He said that the two officers accused the motorist of beating traffic light along Wuse market road and demanded a bribe of N15,000 from him.

Shogunle said that they led him to an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) not far from their duty post, where he was forced to withdraw the money which he gave them.

He said that one of the wardens in the process forgot his cell phone in the motorist’s car.

“The sum of N15,000 earlier extorted from the complainant was recovered from both wardens (N7, 500 each, as the money was already shared, “he said.

He said that the money had been returned to the motorist, who was so delighted about it.

Shogunle said the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, had lauded the complainant for exposing this unprofessional and unacceptable conduct of the traffic wardens.

He enjoined the public to always make use of the PCRRU platform, which is available 24 hours of the week.