Land dispute: PSC demands senior officers probe for extortion, abuse
The Chairman of the Police Service Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu (retd.), has requested the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to investigate two senior officers of the Zone 7 Police Command over their alleged involvement in a civil land dispute, extortion and abuse of office.
Argungu, in a letter to the IGP, urged the setting up of a competent committee to probe the officer in charge of the Legal Unit and the Deputy Commissioner in charge of Operations of the Zone.
In a statement on Tuesday by the PSC’s spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, the PSC chairman accused the officers of violating police rules of engagement by meddling in civil matters and facilitating the demolition of a petitioner’s residence.
“He said the letter was prompted by a complaint/petition received from one Alhaji Abubakar Yahaya against the two officers of the zone who, against repeated warnings, were involved in civil matters and supervised/provided cover in the demolition of the petitioner’s residential property where he had lived for over 15 years.
“In the letter to the IGP, the PSC Chairman said that on the 19th of December 2024, the Police and enforcement staff from the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, went to the residence of the petitioner, Abubakar Yahaya, “threw away his property and chased his family members out of his residence,” the statement added.
Ani said the petitioner further alleged that the High Court enforcement unit, led by one Shamsudeen Ubandoma, extorted ₦700,000 from him under the pretence of preventing further police enforcement actions.
“DIG Argungu disclosed that the enforcement Unit of the High Court led by one Shamsudeen Ubandoma took “the sum of N700,000.00 from the petitioner under the guise or pretence of giving it to the Policemen who came with him for enforcement so that they won’t come back for enforcement again.
“He said on the 16th of January 2025; ‘Some policemen with enforcement team from the court, accompanied by one faceless Alhaji Usman Sarki – the purported owner of the plot on the said No 75 Lome Crescent, Wuse Zone 7 Abuja, under dispute in court, brought trucks and bulldozers which were used in the demolition of the petitioner’s residence.”
Ani stated that Yahaya was later arrested by the Officer in charge of the Legal Unit at Zone 7 Command on charges of criminal conspiracy, trespass, and mischief.
“The PSC Chairman, in the letter to the IGP, said the petitioner was arrested by the Officer in charge of Legal Unit, Zone 7 Police Command for criminal conspiracy, trespass and mischief, adding that the sum of one million Naira was collected from him for securing his bail. He noted that the faceless Alhaji Usman Sarki “is not known to the petitioner, as only his lawyers were always appearing on his behalf.
“He was allegedly forced to pay ₦1 million to secure bail. Argungu noted that Sarki, the supposed landowner, never appeared in person, as only his lawyers represented him in court,” the statement added.
Ani said the PSC chairman alleged that it was evident that the petitioner’s residence was demolished with the support of the police.
“It is now very apparent that the demolition of his residence was done solely on the strength of the Police, led by the Officer in charge of the Legal Unit, who is meant to be a Police prosecutor but turned into a tool of oppression and aided by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations who led the Police to demolish the petitioner’s residence without any justification or adhering to the principle of natural justice.
“The PSC Chairman said the petitioner’s prayers include; “having been rendered homeless as a result of the act of the Officers-in-Charge of Legal Unit and the Deputy Commissioner in charge of Operations who are the major culprits of this heinous act, that the duo should be investigated and appropriate sanctions meted on them, as well as the payment of one billion Naira for the action of the Police, as compensation,” the statement
