Police in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, has dismissed two traffic wardens attached to Wuse Police Division, for allegedly collecting N15,000 as bribe from a traffic offender.
The Assistant Commissioner of Police in-charge of the unit, Abayomi Shogunle gave the names of the suspects as Musa Muktari with force number 394120 GDI and Shuaibu Suleman, 10627 GDII who arrested a motorist at Wuse Market on May 29, accusing him of jumping traffic light.
The wardens were said to have delayed the motorist insisting he must pay some money before he would be freed.
According to the report, even when the motorist pleaded that he does not have any money on him, the wardens still held him.
The traffic wardens reportedly mounted pressure and followed the motorist to an Automated Teller Machine, ATM, where he withdrew N15,000 from his account and gave same to the traffic wardens.
However, as they were alighting from the motorist’s vehicle, one of them forgot his mobile telephone.
It was gathered that trouble started for them after the motorist lodged a complaint about the extortion at the Police Pubic Complaint Rapid Response Unit, PCRRU, following which the traffic wardens were summoned.
They reportedly denied the claim until the mobile telephone that was forgotten was shown to them as evidence, consequent upon which they were subjected to an Orderly Room Trial at the Provost Department, Force Headquarters.
The Assistant Commissioner of Police in-charge of the Unit, Abayomi Shogunle, said both men were found guilty of abuse of office, soliciting and receiving a bribe contrary to Paragraph C Sub (IV), (VI) and (II) of the 1st Schedule of the Police Act and Regulation CAP 370 of 1990. He said:
He added, “The complainant has also been given back his N15,000 with an apology from the PCRRU. While collecting his money, the visibly delighted man said ‘I never thought this could happen in this country— the officers punished and my money returned to me.”
