Police dismiss cop for collecting N50,000 bribe

Olaleye Aluko
A police sergeant, Daniel Osaimayu, has been dismissed from the
Nigeria Police Force for allegedly collecting N50,000 bribe from
motorists in the Oshodi area of Lagos State.
Our correspondent gathered that Osaimayu, who was attached to
the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences
(Enforcement) Unit, Alausa, was arrested on Monday by the X-
Squad of the Lagos State Police Command.
Our correspondent learnt that the X-Squad operatives had
arrested a hoodlum in the area and found the cash on him.
The hoodlum, however, fingered the police sergeant, who was
posted to the area , as his accomplice.
The state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, who confirmed
the dismissal on Wednesday, said four other policemen were
dismissed for extortion and improper dressing.
Our correspondent gathered that the four dismissed policemen
were Samuel Ando, Michael Adeoya, Richard Ugwu and Sulaiman
Muhammed.
It was learnt that Adeoya was dismissed for allegedly wearing
flip-flops while on duty , while Muhammed was dismissed for
allegedly not wearing police uniform while on duty .
Speaking with PUNCH Metro while being paraded,
Osaimayu, who was dismissed for bribe , said the money was
received from motorists in the area and kept with the hoodlum.
The ex-policeman, who denied that the money was collected in
his name, begged the CP to reverse the dismissal as he had no
means to feed his family .
He said, “I was at my duty post on Monday in the Oshodi area
when the X-Squad operatives came to arrest me. It was around
10am. A hoodlum had earlier been arrested and searched, and the
money was found on him. The suspect confessed it was the
money obtained from motorists and he said I authorised him to do
it.
“I did not know he collected any money on my behalf. I was
whisked off to the command headquarters, Ikeja. They searched
me, but no money was found on me. The CP should reconsider
me. I have family members to cater to.”
Adeoya, who was arrested for wearing flip-flops, denied that he
was on duty at that time, adding that he went to the Mile 12
Market to buy food supplements for his fowls.
He said, “I boarded a tricycle to the Mile 12 area. As I alighted,
the X-Squad officials swooped on me and said I was improperly
dressed. But I was not on duty . I worked as a guard to a chairman
of a political party in the Kosofe area.
“As of the time of my arrest, I was going to the market to buy
food supplements for my fowls. I rear fowls in my house. I was
surprised that I was arrested . After I was interrogated, they said I
would be tried for improper dressing. There is nobody to feed my
fowls. They would have all died by now.”
Another suspect, Muhammed, who was attached to the Idimu
Police Division, while pleading for mercy, said he had a health
challenge and was going to treat himself when he was arrested .
He said, “I was on night duty at a politician’ s house in Idimu. I
had an asthmatic attack and I was going to get my inhaler.
Someone gave me a ride to Idimu. I was going to the police
station when they arrested me for improper dressing. I am not
into extortion. I was dealing with my health challenge.”
Owoseni said the Nigeria Police Force was a professional
organisation which would not condone any act of indiscipline.