Lagos Police Detain Man For Four Days, Extort ₦45,000 From Him Over False Phone Theft Allegation | Sahara Reporters

According to him, he had gone to the man’s residence to work and he completed the job but was not paid before leaving.

A Lagos-based man, Sunday Moses Olugbemi, has accused the Nigeria Police Force of detaining him for four days and allegedly extorting ₦45,000 from him over a phone theft allegation that was later found to be false.

Olugbemi told SaharaReporters that he was arrested after completing a job for a man popularly known as “Pastor” and returning home on Friday.

According to him, he had gone to the man’s residence to work and he completed the job but was not paid before leaving.

“The man is commonly known as Pastor. I went there to work. I finished the work and left there on Friday. And they did not even pay me that day,” Olugbemi told SaharaReporters.

He said he arrived home at about 8pm before being contacted and asked to return because a phone was allegedly missing.

“I left there and arrived home around 8pm. Then they told me they were looking for a phone and asked me to come back,” he said.

Olugbemi said he had previously informed the man that he intended to travel for another job, but alleged that police officers were instead brought to his home to arrest him.

“That was how they came with police to arrest me and locked me up at the police station,” he said.

He alleged that he spent four days in detention before the phone was eventually found.

“I spent four days there. Then later they saw the phone. They took me from home and locked me up for four days on wrong accusation. The phone was later found,” he said.

Olugbemi said he was eventually released but alleged that he had to pay ₦45,000 before regaining his freedom.

“I even later bailed myself from the police. The police still collected ₦45,000 from me after remanding me for four days on false allegations,” he alleged.

The case was subsequently brought to the attention of the Take It Back Movement, whose Lagos State Coordinator, Adekunle Adeyemi Taofeek, condemned the alleged detention and extortion.

Taofeek said the case was referred to him by one of the movement’s senior comrades who had worked alongside the late human rights lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN.

According to him, Olugbemi was detained at the Igando Police Station for four days over the alleged theft of a mobile phone, despite the device being found while he was still in custody.

“A man was arrested and detained at Igando Police Station for four days over an allegation of stealing a phone. Fortunately, the phone was later found while the man was still in detention, proving that he was innocent of the allegation,” Taofeek said.

He alleged that the owner of the phone subsequently instructed the police to release Olugbemi after the device was recovered.

Taofeek, however, claimed that the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) allegedly demanded and collected ₦45,000 from Olugbemi before his release.

“Shockingly, I was informed that the DCO allegedly demanded and collected the sum of ₦45,000 from the man before he was released,” he said.

The Take It Back Movement coordinator described the development as unacceptable and said the organisation would seek legal redress.

“This man was detained for four days for an offence he did not commit, only to be allegedly extorted for ₦45,000 before regaining his freedom,” he said.

“I will be contacting our legal team to explore appropriate legal action against the complainant and the Nigeria Police Force.”

Taofeek said Olugbemi deserved compensation for the alleged unlawful detention and ordeal, while officers found culpable should face disciplinary and legal consequences.

“The victim deserves compensation for the unlawful detention and the ordeal he was subjected to. Any officer found to have participated in extortion or other misconduct should face the appropriate disciplinary and legal consequences,” he said.

He also called on the Nigeria Police Force to ensure that its officers protect citizens rather than exploit them.

“The Nigeria Police Force must protect citizens, not exploit their vulnerability,” Taofeek said.

“We will continue to demand accountability, justice and respect for the fundamental rights of every Nigerian.”