Published 27th Apr, 2021

By Ibrahim Adeyemi

The three policemen who extorted N153,000 at gunpoint from Hezekiah Oluwaponmile, a Lagos State University student, have now been dismissed from service.

The dismissed officers are Inspector Sunday John, Sgt Jimoh Asimiya and Sgt Solomon Adedapo.

Oluwaponmile had likened the activities of the trio to armed robbery after they extorted him while he was travelling to Abeokuta from Ibadan, Oyo State. The officers had forced him to transfer the money via a Point of Sale (POS) operator’s account.

Edward Ajogun, the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, had ordered the immediate arrest and detention of the officers involved in the case.

Abimbola Oyeyemi, the Ogun State police spokesperson, said the erring officers were arraigned in departmental orderly room and found guilty on all three charges of corrupt practices, discreditable conduct and disobedience to a lawful order.

They were subsequently dismissed from the force to serve as deterrence to others treading similar paths, according to Oyeyemi.

Oluwaponmile told FIJ he was present at the venue of the trial after he was given the opporunity to experience the credibility of tthe process.

POS OPERATOR IN TROUBLE

*Abayomi, the POS operator who allegedly collaborated with the police.*

Meanwhile, Ajayi Abayomi, the POS operator whose account was used to transfer the the N153,000, has been nabbed for facilitating the illicit transaction for the erring police officers.

FIJ obtained the transaction receipt of the money transferred to Abayomi with the account number: 0131834643.

Abayomi had claimed innocence but the victim had indicted him, saying: “The Paga guy asked me to delete the debit alert. He also asked me to the delete the receipt on the app but I refused.”

The POS operator is currently in detention at the Eleweeran Police Station in Ogun State.

Earlier on Monday, FIJ had reported that the recovered money was returned to Oluwaponminle, the victim, following outrage on social media.

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