Lagos Police Officer Accused Of Extorting £6,500 From Businesswoman.
A senior police officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) John Alabi, attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Yaba, Lagos, faces allegations of professional misconduct and extortion. Businesswoman Mrs Nnoma Ugochukwu Nze claims Alabi subjected her to torture, inhumane treatment, and coerced her into transferring N13 million (£6,500) to him and his accomplices.
In petitions dated 21 October 2024 and 6 January 2025, addressed to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Nze, represented by her lawyer Goddy Ezimoha & Co, detailed the alleged abuses. She accused Alabi of orchestrating her prolonged detention to access her bank accounts and transfer funds to third parties under the pretext of recovering an alleged debt.
The ordeal began in July 2024 when Prophetess Chidinma Nwayima filed a complaint at SCID, alleging Nze defrauded her of N100 million (£50,000) between 2019 and 2024. Nze was detained for a month and allegedly forced to disclose her bank details. According to the petitions, Alabi secured a questionable detention order to extend her custody.
Nze claims that on 26 July 2024, she was compelled to transfer N9 million (£4,500) from her son’s Zenith Bank account to a third party. Despite complying, she was returned to her cell, with police allegedly demanding the full N100 million before granting bail. On 31 July, Nze was coerced into transferring an additional N4 million (£2,000) from her United Bank for Africa account to another third party’s Guaranty Trust Bank account. She alleges Alabi instructed her to conceal the transactions from her lawyer and family.
On 6 August 2024, Nze was arraigned at Magistrate’s Court 9 in Ebute Metta, but the N13 million transferred was neither mentioned in the charge sheet nor presented as evidence. Nze’s lawyer accused Alabi and an accomplice, Ms Tope, of falsely labelling the transfers as rent payments to misappropriate the funds. The petition clarified that Nze’s rent, paid annually on 5 June 2024, was already settled, rendering the claims baseless.
Describing the alleged extortion as “brutal, crude, wicked, and corrupt,” Nze’s lawyer demanded the return of the N13 million and sanctions against Alabi and his accomplices. When contacted, ASP Alabi declined to comment, directing inquiries to the Lagos State Police Command spokesperson.
Lagos State Police Command spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed the petitions but denied any wrongdoing. “This case has been reviewed at the Lagos State Police Command, Zone 2, and the Complaint Response Unit in Abuja. No evidence of foul play was found,”
Hundeyin told The Guardian. He emphasised that the Command would resist media pressure and uphold best practices in its investigations.
The allegations have sparked concerns about police conduct in Nigeria, with Nze’s legal team vowing to pursue justice. The case continues to unfold as investigations proceed.
