Emmanuel Chigozie Nwanji, a UK-based Nigerian man, has narrated to FIJ how officers of the Nigeria Police Force unduly took ₦140,000 from him.

Nwanji told FIJ that he had met Akpelu Obioma, one of the fraudulent officers, before travelling to the UK on September 1.

“I met Akpelu Obioma, an officer at the Abia State Criminal Investigation Department, when I was in Nigeria. So, when I arrived in the UK and needed a police character certificate, I sent him a message,” Nwanji said.

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“He charged me ₦120,000 after a little negotiation for two certificates. When we came to an agreement, he sent me an account number and I immediately transferred the money to him.”

“Ever since then, whenever I asked him about the certificate, he would keep ‘posting’ me.

“At a point, I couldn’t wait any longer. I had to contact another officer who delivered the two certificates to me within 24 hours.

“When I asked officer Akpelu to refund my ₦120,000, he immediately blocked me and even threatened me via SMS.”

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Nwanji further narrated how he was tired of begging for a refund from the officer and decided to lay his complaints to the Police Complaints Response Unit.

“On Thursday, September 15, I contacted the Nigeria Police Complaint Unit through the WhatsApp number on their Twitter handle,” Nwanji told FIJ.

“After explaining myself, the officer in charge, who got my complaints, sent me his personal number and told me to call him.

“During our phone conversation, he asked me to make a payment so he could fast-track my complaints and also raise a complaint ticket.”

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“I had to send the money, but I’d never heard or seen this type of thing since I was born,” Nwanji said.

“How can the police CRU WhatsApp complaint number be asking for a bribe for attending to a case of extortion by its own officer?”

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FIJ contacted Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Nigeria Police Force spokesperson, but he did not respond to calls. Text messages seeking comments on the acts of the officers had also not been responded to at press time.