Four Nigerian police officers were arrested following an incident where they forced the anti‑corruption chief, Musa Aliyu, to withdraw money at an illegal checkpoint on a busy Abuja road.
Aliyu, who leads the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, was stopped by four officers, none of whom held official road‑block credentials. The officers allegedly instructed him to open his car and provide his driver’s licence, then threatened to take him to a traffic court while demanding a fine of 52,000 naira.
Instead of paying a fine, Aliyu reported the incident to the Nigerian Police Force, prompting a police investigation that quickly led to the arrest of what police Commissioner Ahmed Sanusi described as the ringleader and the other suspects.
Police chief Sanusi condemned the officers’ conduct, stating: “You have to choose: either a policeman or a thief. You cannot be both. If you fail to choose, your actions will determine where you belong.” The officers are now subject to a disciplinary procedure that could see them dismissed.
The case is notable because it is rare for police misconduct to be taken this far into the legal process, signalling a possible shift in how Nigerian authorities address corruption within their ranks.
More information can be found in related BBC Africa coverage and through official statements from the Nigerian Police Force.
