Police Sergeant dismissed for demanding N25,000 from motorist in Lagos

By Evelyn Usman

The orderly room trial on a  Police Sergeant, Chris Omeleze, attached to the Lagos State Motor Traffic Division,MTD  caught on video demanding for bribe from a motorists Tuesday, was concluded Wednesday.

Vanguard reliably gathered that the Sergeant with Force number 192954  had  been dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force, as he was reportedly found guilty at the end of the trial.

The Sergeant was reported to have arrested a motorist  who was returning from the airport, for contravening traffic rules. He was said to have  entered the vehicle, threatening to take the motorist who was with a female passenger to the station.
Chris Omeleze

Chris Omeleze

However along the line, he reportedly demanded for the  sum of N25,000 from the motorist to allow him (motorist) go. But the motorist offered the sum of N2000, pleading that he had only N500 on him, an offer the policeman bluntly refused. But unknown to him, the negotiation was being recorded on video.

The motorist was said to have been taken to the entrance of the station where the Sergeant continued the negotiation, claiming that he was not the only one involved.

All entreaties by the motorists and the passenger who were said to be on their way to Ajah  fell on deaf ears as the Sergeant insisted on N25,000.

Later that day, the video clip went viral on social media, prompting the Inspector-General of Police to direct the Lagos State Police Command to fish out the policeman and carry out an orderly room trial on him.

The video clip as gathered, was used during the trial where the Sergeant was said to have been dumb founded and appealed to be given a second chance.

See video here

When contacted on phone,  spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braid,  confirmed the dismissal. She simply stated, “ Yes, he has been dismissed”.

Below is a transcript of the negotiation for a bribe between the dismissed police officer and the motorist. Enjoy:

Policeman: Once we enter this compound now(police station), I no go follow you talk
Motorist(pleading): I don’t have N25,000
Policeman: OK. Talk better thing now, make you go your way, make you go your Osborne
Motorist: (Protests again) I don’t have more than N2,000
Policeman: Ok (sighed). Oh.. (quiet)
Motorist: If you want to help me, must I pay N25k?
Policeman: I know sir, I know you cannot raise N25,000. But talk something reasonable
Motorist: (Female passenger) I told you I just got my ticket now. You want me to show you. My ticket is in the car.

Policeman: Wait now… What you are saying is very far… Add something reasonable to that. Make you go your way. I know there is no how you can raise N25k; a guy like you.
Motorist: Oga, a man like me… oga
Policeman: And moreover, I am not working alone. Look, if you enter this compound (police station), you will pay bigger money.

Motorist: You know I won’t stand on that ground and risk saying bigger amount when I don’t have. I don’t have…
Policeman: I am not working alone

Motorist: I don’t live here. I came here to collect something. I have N5000 on me. If I cannot at least… I’m going to
Ajah. I’m coming back to Airport tomorrow. How do you want me to do it?
Motorist (Female) I’ve told you .. should I show you my ticket?
Policeman: Wait… No be $50, $20 and other dollars dey with you?
Motorist: (Female): I have told you I’m paying for excess luggage. That was why I offered you…
Policeman: All that $50 dollars – you want to use for excess luggage… you dey speak grammar; by the time when speak (sic) no dey for two of us, you go see my own. Add something to that money.
Motorist: I don’ have

Police: You don’t have ….(sighed) pause…
Motorist: So you cannot help me because I cannot put small money to it….. to that N2,000 (silence for some moments)

Policeman: I have related to you like my own young brother, like friend…
Motorist: Have I not spoken to you like a man, to tell you what I have?
Policeman: if it is possible from that side.. you think I will still be inside here? (the car)
Motorist: You think I will waste my time here if I have more money?

Policeman?: I’m not working alone, if I am, even i
f it is N1,000 I will collect from you and go.
(Policeman picks his mobile phone and calls a colleague named Wasiu and reports that the jeep car that he arrested is not ready to deal; that he should tell Oga to ‘book it’ “He told me N2,000”, he reported to the said Wasiu.
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