The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of Lagos State, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, has warned the public not to give money when filing complaints or seeking bail at any police station in the state. He also notes that any officer demanding money for such services is acting illegally and should be reported immediately.
During an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday, Hundeyin said the police force had zero tolerance for bribery and corruption. He urged residents to report any such cases to the Complaint Response Unit (CRU) of the Lagos State Police Command.
Reports from residents show that some officers are still collecting money before registering complaints or releasing people on bail, despite the popular slogan by the Nigeria Police Force that “Bail is Free.”
A Lagos resident shared his experience with NAN, saying he was taken to a police station in the Meiran area after a neighbor accused him of stealing a phone. He said officers first collected ₦2,000 before giving him a statement form. Even after the actual thief was found, the police still asked him to pay ₦10,000 for bail. After pleading, he was forced to pay ₦5,000.
Another incident involved a university student who was stopped by police at Oshodi during a stop-and-search. After failing to provide a receipt for his used phone, the student said officers accused him of stealing and threatened him with a robbery charge.
“I told them I had only ₦5,000. They confirmed it from my phone and took me to a POS shop where I withdrew ₦4,000 for them,” he said.
One more victim told NAN that he went to report a burglary in his estate but was asked to pay ₦13,000 before he could write a statement. After negotiations, he ended up paying ₦12,000.
CSP Hundeyin firmly stated that these actions are unacceptable. He noted that police officers are not allowed to collect money from citizens for filing reports or granting bail.
“People should not succumb to extortion; rather, they should make a formal complaint of officers who demand money for any offence to the state through CRU of the Lagos State Police Command,” Hundeyin said. He added that there have been cases where quick reporting to CRU led to the immediate release of victims without payment.
The PPRO also encouraged Lagos residents to use the official police channels to lodge complaints. He said the CRU was set up for the very purpose of tackling misconduct and ensuring accountability within the police force.
