Officer Charles Omotosho of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad who forcefully collect N5, 000 from a woman in Ikorodu, Lagos.
The Nigerian Police today arrested an operative of the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad by the Name Charles Omotosho for allegedly extorting money from a woman identified as Adegoke Ifeoluwa unlawfully
Mr Omotosho was apprehended for allegedly arresting a lady in Ikorodu, Lagos State, after which he was said to have forcefully collected the sum of 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.
“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.
Inspector Charles Omotosho holding a copy of his statement of bank account which confirms the alleged extortion of N5,000.
Omotosho immediately has been removed from the front line of being a SARS and has been held in custody since he committed the frivolous offence of extortion.
It added that a copy of the officer’s bank statement was obtained and the entry of the said transfer was found 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.
A screenshot of the complaint as received by the Police PCRRU via Twitter
As the investigation thickens, the 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 Charles 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.
