The Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Police Command, SP Chike Oti, has disclosed the identities of the operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) who attempted to extort a businessman on Ago Palace Way, Okota area of Lagos on Tuesday.
According to Oti, the men were from the Ipakodo base of SARS and not the Ikeja unit as previously thought.
He had said that preliminary investigation showed that Inspector Jude Akhoyemta of SARS, Ikeja, led the erring team.
However, Akhoyemta has been absolved of any blame after it was discovered that his unit had no hand in the incident.
The erring policeman are: Inspector Taiwo Omojope, Inspector Arigidi Ebibor , Sergeant Rotimi Adesoba , Sergeant Olalekan Olakunle and Sergeant Friday Oni.
A statement from the command read, “In line with the directive of the Commissioner of Police , the command wishes to inform the public that further enquiry into the allegation of harassment of one Immanuel Ibe – Anyanwu by SARS operatives at Ago- Palace Way, Okota , has revealed the true identities of the policemen involved in the highly regrettable incident .
“ The men, numbering five , are from the Ipakodo base of the Special Anti – Robbery Squad and not the Ikeja unit as previously reported .
“ The names of the policemen are Inspector Taiwo Omojope, Inspector Arigidi Ebibor , Sergeant Rotimi Adesoba , Sergeant Olalekan Olakunle and Sergeant Friday Oni .
“ They are currently undergoing interrogation at the command ’ s X – Squad Section and will be marched before an adjudicating officer at the Police Provost Department for the commencement of their orderly room trial.”
The policemen had accosted the businessman, Ibe – Anyanwu, in the Okota area and seized his company documents.
They had demanded to know what he was doing in Okota when he told them his company was located in Lekki area of the state.
After searching the 37-year-old’s car and checking the company documents and seeing nothing incriminating, the officers had told him to take them to his business address in Lekki.
After a resident intervened, the policemen were said to have demanded money from the businessman.
They reportedly refused to pick a call from the PRO of the State Command after Ibe-Anyanwu dialled his number and handed the officers the phone.
Pretending like he was going into the bank to withdraw money for them, he sneaked into the bank’s toilet and dialled the PRO’s number again and the PRO promised to send a team of X-Squad members to rescue the businessman.
Unknown to Ibe – Anyanwu, the SARS men had removed his vehicle’s plate number while he was inside the banking hall.
After a while, the bank officials ordered him out of their premises.
He was reportedly able to get to safety after observing the distance of the policemen from his car and then making a run for it.