Police officers attached to the Ekiti State Command have been moved to the Force Headquarters in Abuja for disciplinary proceedings over a viral video showing their alleged extortion of a motorcyclist.
The Police Complaint Response Unit disclosed this in an update on X on Tuesday, stating that the action followed a directive by the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu.
According to the unit, the officers are undergoing disciplinary procedures at the Force Headquarters in connection with the incident, which was tracked under complaint number CRU100953.
The development followed a complaint lodged by representatives of the Biker Association, Federal University Oye-Ekiti chapter, on October 6 over the alleged extortion and intimidation of one of its members.
In an earlier statement issued on October 7, the Ekiti State Police Command said the motorcyclist was allegedly stopped by a patrol team while travelling alone from Itapa to Ikole-Ekiti, where the officers reportedly demanded money from him.
The command said the officers involved had been identified and taken into custody for questioning over allegations of extortion, intimidation, disobedience to lawful orders and other forms of unprofessional conduct. It added that the investigation had been transferred to the state police headquarters in Ado-Ekiti for a thorough and impartial probe.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Falade Micheal, condemned extortion, intimidation and abuse of authority, warning that such conduct could undermine public confidence in the police. He also maintained that officers were not authorised to demand or collect money from members of the public while performing their official duties.
The viral video showed a confrontation between a police officer and a motorcyclist during an alleged roadworthiness check.
The rider appeared to resist a reported demand for ₦20,000, while the accompanying allegations included a threat by the officer.
The police have yet to announce the outcome of the investigation or the specific sanctions the officers may face.
