PSC asks Egbetokun to probe officers for ‘supervising demolition of residential property’ in Abuja

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has asked Kayode Egbetokun, the inspector-general of police (IGP), to probe officers of Zone 7 command in the federal capital territory (FCT), Abuja, for alleged abuse of office and extortion.

In a statement on Tuesday, Ikechukwu Ani, PSC spokesperson, said Hashimu Argungu, the commission’s chairman, had written a letter to the IGP to set up a committee to investigate some officers in the zone.

Ani said the letter to the IGP was necessitated by a petition received from Abubakar Yahaya, a resident in the nation’s capital, against two officers of the zone.

The PSC spokesperson said the officers were accused of meddling in civil matters and providing security cover for the demolition of the petitioner’s residential property.

“DIG Argungu is requesting that the IGP set up a competent committee to conduct further investigation into the activities of the officer in charge of the legal unit and the deputy commissioner in charge of operations of the Zone for abuse of office, extortion, and gross misconduct contrary to the rules of engagement and conduct of police officers,” the statement reads.

“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.

“DIG Argungu disclosed that the enforcement unit of the high court led by one Shamsudeen Ubandoma took ‘the sum of seven hundred thousand Naira (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.’

“The PSC Chairman, in the letter to the IGP, said the petitioner was arrested by the officer in charge of the 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.

“The petitioner claimed that he has been in possession of the said plot of land for more than 15 years without any issue, developed the land, and has been in occupation of the residence without any hindrance.

“That 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.”