Policeman caught on camera demanding bribe dismissed

Sacked Policeman, Chris Omeleze

The Lagos State Police Command has dismissed a police sergeant, Chris Omeleze, who was caught on video camera demanding a bribe of  N25,000 from a motorist.

In the video footage, made available to our correspondent, an unidentified male motorist could be heard pleading with Omeleze to accept N2,000 for a traffic offence, but the sergeant refused.

The sergeant, who was on the passenger seat, placed a call to his superior on the telephone, saying the motorist’s car must be impounded for refusing to “cooperate.”

The policeman, who is attached to the State Traffic Division, Ikeja, was arrested on Tuesday after the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, saw the video which went viral on the Internet.

It was learnt that the Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, ordered that the sergeant should face an orderly room trial.

Our correspondent (the Punch) was told that a panel of policemen found the sergeant guilty of misconduct and recommended him for dismissal which the CP approved immediately.

The sergeant, however, said his ordeal was the handiwork of the devil.

Omeleze, with Force number, 192954, was given a dressing down at the CP’s office on Wednesday.

He said, “I regret the incident, I have  served in the police for 21 years.”

Motorists had been complaining about extortion by operatives of STD, especially along Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja.

The state command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, said the police were disappointed with the sergeant’s unprofessional behaviour.

Braide said members of the public should cultivate the habit of reporting such cases of extortion to the police backed with evidence. She added that such evidence would help police authorities to flush out bad eggs from the force.

She said, “The video was well detailed and we were able to locate the sergeant. The video was enough evidence and after facing an orderly room trial, he was dismissed.

“The police will not condone such behaviour and members of the public are advised to always report such cases.”