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Posted By OgaDeyVex On May 10th, 2024

A Nigerian businessman, Abass Alade, has alleged that Nigeria Police officers extorted N70,000 from him on May 4, 2024, on Eko Bridge, Ijora Olopa area of Lagos, after he refused to offer bribes to them.

But, in response, the police claimed that the businessman contravened the Lagos Bus Rapid Transit laws, was duly booked for the offence and paid the official fine of N70,000 into government coffers.

Alade who spoke to PUNCH Metro on Thursday recounted encountering unusual traffic on the bridge before being signalled to stop by the officers.

He said, “I noticed the traffic, having passed through the road just 15 minutes earlier. Unbeknownst to me, the congestion was caused by officers stopping vehicles. Another car similar to mine had been stopped ahead and allowed to leave after a conversation. When they directed me to stop, I refused to offer bribes as requested.”

Alade explained that upon declining to bribe the officers, they accused him of using the BRT lane and demanded he alight from his vehicle.

He added, “I requested evidence of using the BRT lane, but they couldn’t provide any. I began recording them, including their threats to shoot me, and sent the videos to my brother for safekeeping.”

Alade emphasised that his children were in the car when the officers threatened him and that despite his refusal to pay a bribe, he insisted on being taken to the police station.

He also stated that he was forced at gunpoint to delete the videos he made and the one made by his wife who was also in the car.

“When we arrived, they demanded payment for violating traffic laws before releasing my car. Because it was late and I didn’t want further delay, I paid and received a receipt. However, I later discovered that they falsely booked me for not wearing a seat belt, contrary to their earlier claims,” Alade stated.

When contacted, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident after citing the victim’s social media outcry.

“He contravened the BRT laws. He was duly booked for the offence and paid the official fine of N70,000 into government coffers. We have the evidence of payment of fine for the offence.,” Hundeyin stated.

However, PUNCH Metro observed that there was a discrepancy between the police’s claim of “BRT laws violation” and what was written on the receipt issued to the victim which stated “non-usage of seat belt.”

When asked about the discrepancy between the offence on the receipt and the police’s claims despite sending images that failed to confirm the victim’s car, Hundeyin said, “Oga, I have exhausted this story. Go ahead and publish.”

Source: https://punchng.com/bizman-lagos-police-bicker-over-n70000-extortion-allegation/