DSP, 5 others detained over N100,000 bribe

A Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Popoola Kayode, and five other policemen have been detained for allegedly collecting the sum of N100,000 from a female traffic offender in Lagos.

At the time of committing the offence, the policemen were said to be assigned to the enforcement unit of the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Taskforce.

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It was gathered that the erring officers are being quizzed on the orders of the task force chairman, Olayinka Egbeyemi.

The traffic offender was arrested for violating the state traffic law along the Lekki-Ajah expressway by DSP Kayode and with his team.

Egbeyemi said he personally conducted an investigation into the matter when he heard about the allegation.

He said the investigation revealed that the vehicle in question, a Venza with registration number APP 775 GJ, was arrested for driving against traffic around Lekki-Ajah expressway by the enforcement team of the agency on Wednesday, November 18, 2020.

He said the investigation revealed further that the vehicle was impounded and brought to the agency’s car park at Alausa, Ikeja.

“The leader of the team, DSP Popoola Kayode, who is not the commander of the agency as quoted inside the report, collected the sum of N100,000 via bank transfer to his account before he released the vehicle to the owner, one Didi Ekanem.

“The leader of the team and members of his team have been arrested and queried by the chairman, and they would be sent back to the Lagos Police Command for further disciplinary action.

“The agency hereby warns motorists, particularly private car owners and motorcycle operators to desist from driving against traffic as anyone caught would be charged to the Lagos State Mobile Court for prosecution.

“Members of the public should stop inducing our officers with money and be reminded that both the giver and receiver are liable to prosecution under the law. It is only the court that pronounces traffic fines and the money is paid into government purse,” he added.

The agency, however, urged members of the public to always report any corrupt officer who engaged in shady deals thereby destroying the image of the agency for disciplinary action.