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Tag: extortion

  • 15 police officers in detention over extortion

    The leadership of the Abia State Police Command says it has arrested 15 police personnel under its command for allegedly extorting money from motorists and other members of the public.

    The police officers, it was learnt are standing orderly room trial at the command’s Headquarters in Umuahia, the state capital.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Ene Okon who disclosed this in Aba said that the command would not shield any corrupt person within its workforce that is trying to tarnish its good image.

    The CP who was reacting to the calls made by some traditional rulers during a Town Hall Meeting in Aba, asking him to call some of his extortionist officers to order, assured that the Nigeria Police does not shield anyone with criminal behaviour.

    Okon pointed out that the command is determined to get rid of bad eggs among its personnel, stressing that it was why it declared one Sergeant Collins Akpugo wanted for killing Mr. Christian Onuoha in Umuahia.

    He further disclosed that a reward of N500, 000 will be given to whoever has information on his way about.

    Read Also: Police rescue teenage burglar from mob attack
    Okon who maintained that bail is free, however, urged the members of the public to resist the urge of giving money to any officers who tried to extort them, stressing that every citizen ought to know his right and stand on it.

    “We are the only organization that when you err, we punish. All of you must have heard about a policeman that shot somebody and killed on the 4th of June in Afara Umuahia?

    “After killing, he ran away and disappeared. We have declared him wanted and we have placed N500,000 on his head. Anybody that will give us Information on his arrest collects N500,000 cash from me,” the CP said.

    Speaking on bribery and extortion by police officers, Okon said “It takes two to tangle. If you don’t give the police will not take. It starts with you. If you know that you’ve not done anything wrong, if you know that you’re operating your joint according to rules, if a policeman comes, you prove to him that you know you’re right.

    “I don’t know that policeman that will not be afraid to even tell you to bring knowing that you know your right. Insist that you know your right. Let me be very frank to you, I am not supporting police collecting any money.

    “As I’m talking to you, I have 15 policemen in my cell. 7 were arrested here at Opobo Junction when I heard the information that they were collecting money. I sent out my monitoring unit and my monitoring unit went there and met them in the act and arrested them.

    “I subjected them to investigation and we have completed investigation and they’re undergoing ‘orderly room trials’. Let God be with them if they’ll escape. At the end of the day, they’ll turn to civilians and be giving money too and see how painful it is.

    “I have monitoring unit. We are not sleeping on it. I don’t like it, but you too must stop giving. If you don’t give, they’ll not take. Insist on your right. My phone number is here, call me, give me the information and see what will happen.”

  • Embarrassing photos: “I prefer to… see what crawls out”, says Jeff Bezos

    Embarrassing photos: “I prefer to… see what crawls out”, says Jeff Bezos

    Billionaire founder of Amazon, Jeff Bezos has said he prefers “to stand up, roll this log over, and see what crawls out” after National Enquirer, a media outfit owned by American Media, Inc. (AMI) threatened to publish embarrassing photos of him.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Bezos, who jointly with MacKenzie, his ex-wife, announced their divorce recently, and who has been reported to be secretly dating a married former TV presenter, stated this via a Medium post on Thursday.

    Bezos, who revealed several emails emanating from AMI, the owner of the National Enquirer, led by David Pecker, said he did not know much a few weeks ago when intimate texts messages from him were published in the National Enquirer.

    “Something unusual happened to me yesterday. Actually, for me it wasn’t just unusual — it was a first. I was made an offer I couldn’t refuse. Or at least that’s what the top people at the National Enquirer thought. I’m glad they thought that, because it emboldened them to put it all in writing.

    “I didn’t know much about most of that a few weeks ago when intimate texts messages from me were published in the National Enquirer. I engaged investigators to learn how those texts were obtained, and to determine the motives for the many unusual actions taken by the Enquirer. As it turns out, there are now several independent investigations looking into this matter,” he said.

    He further stated that “Several days ago, an AMI leader advised us that Mr. Pecker is “apoplectic” about our investigation. For reasons still to be better understood, the Saudi angle seems to hit a particularly sensitive nerve.

    “A few days after hearing about Mr. Pecker’s apoplexy, we were approached, verbally at first, with an offer. They said they had more of my text messages and photos that they would publish if we didn’t stop our investigation.

    “My lawyers argued that AMI has no right to publish photos since any person holds the copyright to their own photos, and since the photos in themselves don’t add anything newsworthy”.

    AMI’s claim of newsworthiness is that the photos are necessary to show Amazon shareholders that my business judgment is terrible.

    “I founded Amazon in my garage 24 years ago, and drove all the packages to the post office myself. Today, Amazon employs more than 600,000 people, just finished its most profitable year ever, even while investing heavily in new initiatives, and it’s usually somewhere between the #1 and #5 most valuable company in the world. I will let those results speak for themselves,” he said.

    After receiving threat to publish intimate photos of him, the Amazon founder said, “Well, that got my attention. But not in the way they likely hoped. Any personal embarrassment AMI could cause me takes a back seat because there’s a much more important matter involved here.

    “If in my position I can’t stand up to this kind of extortion, how many people can? (On that point, numerous people have contacted our investigation team about their similar experiences with AMI, and how they needed to capitulate because, for example, their livelihoods were at stake)”.

    Bezos stated that in the letters AMI allegedly sent to him, which he made public, precise details of extortionate proposal could be seen.

    “They will publish the personal photos unless Gavin de Becker and I make the specific false public statement to the press that we “have no knowledge or basis for suggesting that AMI’s coverage was politically motivated or influenced by political forces.”

    “If we do not agree to affirmatively publicize that specific lie, they say they’ll publish the photos, and quickly. And there’s an associated threat: They’ll keep the photos on hand and publish them in the future if we ever deviate from that lie.

    “Be assured, no real journalists ever propose anything like what is happening here: I will not report embarrassing information about you if you do X for me. And if you don’t do X quickly, I will report the embarrassing information.

    “Nothing I might write here could tell the National Enquirer story as eloquently as their own words below.

    “These communications cement AMI’s long-earned reputation for weaponizing journalistic privileges, hiding behind important protections, and ignoring the tenets and purpose of true journalism.

    “Of course I don’t want personal photos published, but I also won’t participate in their well-known practice of blackmail, political favors, political attacks, and corruption. I prefer to stand up, roll this log over, and see what crawls out,” he stated.

     

  • Cross River to sanction 54 health workers for extorting patients

    Cross River to sanction 54 health workers for extorting patients

    Fifty-four healthcare workers in Cross River State are to be sanctioned over alleged extortion of money from patients in different primary healthcare facilities across the state.

    Dr Betta Edu, the Director-General, Cross River Primary Healthcare Development Agency, made this known on Friday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Calabar.

    Edu told newsmen that the agency had set up a disciplinary committee to look into the petition, including absenteeism and gross misconduct of members of staff.

    She added that the committee would also checkmate the workers and punish the offenders with a view to serve as a deterrent to others.

    Edu, who did not disclose the category of sanctions for the erring workers, warned them to shun all forms of sharp practices.

    “Some of the issues at the primary healthcare level are the extortion of money under the table by charging members of the public for the services that are supposed to be free.

    “Also, the issue of workers’ absenteeism and reporting to work late are hindering the smooth delivery of healthcare services, especially at the rural areas.

    “Gov. Ben Ayade is a labour-friendly personality who has been paying workers’ salaries and rural allowances on time and as such, there is no need for sharp practices,’’ she said.

    The director-general said that the agency was looking into improving the integrated supportive supervision for members of staff with a view to ensuring that primary health care facilities were open for service accordingly.

    She advised residents in the rural communities to always report any erring health worker, who demand money from them for health services.

    Edu said that medical service delivery at the primary health care level was completely free.

  • Panic in Ekiti as soldiers, police clash over alleged extortion

    There was pandemonium in Ekiti State on Thursday as a group of soldiers from the state who had just completed their recruitment training attacked policemen.

    In the attack, the soldiers stabbed a policeman, Cpl. Abdulkadir Yakub, with a jack-knife.

    An eyewitness said Yakubu, a Traffic Police Officer, was attacked after he challenged the soldiers for extorting money from motorists and causing a traffic gridlock.

    It was learnt that Yakub sustained deep cuts in the head and buttocks.

    The young soldiers, who were 17 in number, were said to be returning from the Governor’s Office after a courtesy visit to Governor Ayodele Fayose.

    The soldiers took to the streets and stopped vehicles at Fajuyi Roundabout to extort money from motorists and motorcyclists.

    Cpl Monday Agom, who was on duty with the victim when the incident occurred at about 2.00pm, said Yakub was attacked by the soldiers after he pleaded with them not to cause a traffic gridlock during the alleged extortion.

    Agom said, “One of the soldiers stopped a man in mufti who happened to be a policeman right in his car and demanded the car key, while Yakub was trying to pass him to allow for the next person in line, so as to free traffic which was already building up.

    “Yakub then explained to him (the attacker) that the man he stopped is a police officer and that he should allow him to go as stopping him there would cause hold-up.

    “This statement infuriated the soldier who immediately slapped Yakub, before bringing out a jack-knife with which he started cutting him at several parts of the body.

    “I then joined other people to rescue Yakub from the soldier, who has started shouting ‘I will kill you, idiot; I will kill you, idiot” even as his colleagues (soldiers) had started punching Yakub who was already soaked in blood.”

    The Mobile Policemen whose station was close to the scene were said to have mobilised to the scene and attacked the soldier in return.

    It was learnt that one of the soldiers also sustained head injuries in the fracas.

    The Officer in Charge of Army Operations in Ekiti, Cpt. Joshua Zoaka, who raced to the scene was not spared in the attack.

    His team were said to have been attacked with tear-gas by the policemen.

    Another eye witness confirmed Yakub had been on duty controlling traffic before the soldiers came some few minutes after 2.00pm and started stopping everybody.

    The witness said, “I saw them when they were jogging to Governor’s Office, singing, and when they were returning.

    “They came back and rather than go their own way, they stopped at this junction (Fajuyi Roundabout) and started stopping everybody, including okada riders and vehicles.

    “At a point one of them started arguing with a traffic warden and soon brought out a sharp knife to cut the warden. At that point, I ran to another place to hide myself, but I could see some people trying to hold the soldier’s hands.”

    Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti, Mr. Alberto Adeyemi, a Superintendent of Police, said the incident has been reported to the Brigade Commander of the 322 Field Artillery Regiment in Akure, Ondo State.

    Adeyemi said, “The soldiers, numbering 17, who were Ekiti State indigenes, just came back from a recruitment exercise in Zaria, Kaduna state and were in Governor’s Office for possible assistance from the governor.

    “They chose to make some money by stopping motorists at the Fajuyi roundabout, during which arguments arose with traffic wardens on duty, one of which they stabbed with a jack-knife.”

    “However the situation is under control as the Brigade Commander, Akure Division, was contacted and has come to pick up the recruits to face possible departmental questioning and sanctions.”

  • Extortion: NIS bans cash payments at passport offices

    Extortion: NIS bans cash payments at passport offices

    The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has banned cash payments for passport processing as part of efforts to eliminate corruption at all passport offices nationwide.‎

    NIS spokesperson, Sunday James, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Monday.

    He‎ said that the Comptroller General of the NIS, Mr Muhammad Babandede, has directed that henceforth all payments for passport processing must be done online and through designated banks‎.‎

    He said that the NIS boss had, in a circular, directed‎ all passport control officers not to allow cash payments in any of the passport premises.

    “All payments in respect to passport processing are to be done by applicants through banks to generate application ID and reference number on the NIS portal and not through an individual or touts,” James said.

    According to him, the NIS CG has also ordered an‎ investigation into allegations of passport racketeering at some passport offices in Lagos with a view to sanitising the system.‎

    James, therefore, urged passport applicants to ensure that all categories of Nigerian passports fees were done online. ‎

    “Passport applicants are therefore strongly advised to visit the NIS website www.immigration.gov.ng to confirm the approved fees for all categories of Nigerian Passports and age groups before making payments,” he added.

    He said that the management of all passport offices have been directed to paste all information required at the premises to guide applicants in line with the executive orders.

    He urged Nigerians to direct any complaint or enquiries to 07080607900 and the email address nis.servicom@nigeriaimmigration.gov.ng.

    The spokesperson advised applicants against patronising touts or agents‎ in order to ensure efficient service delivery.

    The NIS boss had vowed to stamp out corruption in the operations of the NIS as part of efforts to reposition the Service and ensure efficient service delivery.

     

     

    NAN

     

  • IGP fires four policemen over extortion

    IGP fires four policemen over extortion

    The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has sacked four policemen attached to Ijebu-Ode Area Command in Ogun State.

    The men were found guilty of extorting N50,000 from a man they arrested.

    Affected by the dismissal are Inspector Mufutau Olaosun, Sgt. Adebayo Temitope, Cpl. Bakare Taiwo and Cpl. Adesoye Ayokunlehin.

    According to a statement by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Abayomi Sogunle, who heads the Police Public Complaints Rapid Response Unit, the men were dismissed after they were found guilty in an Orarederly Room trial at the Area Command Headquarters, Ijebu-Ode.

    They were charged with discreditable Conduct and Corrupt Practice under the First Schedule of Police Act and Regulations Cap. P19. Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

    The four men on 7 June, without any grounds, arrested a man who was just leaving a bank and took him to the Igbeba Station, where they labelled him a “yahoo boy” and made him frog jump and write a self-incriminating statement, that he was an internet fraudster.

    “After the maltreatment, they released the man and also impounded the N50,000 he had gone to collect on behalf of his boss, saying it was payment for his bail. The man lodged a complaint with the Police Public Complaints Rapid Response Unit.

    The police authorities found the complaint genuine and were mortified that policemen could take money for bail, despite the #BailisFree campaign by the police themselves.

    “Their action is contrary to the directives of the Inspector-General of Police and unacceptable”, said Sogunle.

    The money had since been recovered from the four policemen and given back to the man.

    *Have you been maltreated by policemen recently? You can now lodge a complaint directly to the Police Public Complaints Rapid Response Unit at the following numbers and platforms: Phone Calls Only: 08057000001, 08057000002 | SMS/WhatsApp Only: 08057000003 | BBM:58A2B5DE | Twitter: @PoliceNG_PCRRU | Facebook: www.facebook.com/PolicePCRRU | Email: complaint@npf.gov.ng OR PolicePCRRU@gmail.com.