Two Traffic Wardens
F/No. 394120 GDI Musa Muktari and F/No. 10627 GDII Shuaibu Suleman attached to
Wuse Police Division, FCT Abuja Command have been dismissed from service with immediate effect
for corrupt practice.
This followed an
Orderly Room trial at the Provost Department, Force Headquarters Abuja in which
both wardens were found guilty of abuse of office, soliciting and receiving a
bribe contrary to Paragraph C sub (IV), (VI) and (II) of the 1st
Schedule of the Police Act and Regulation CAP 370 of 1990.
THE CASE AGAINST
THE EX-TRAFFIC WARDENS
On 30th May, 2017 a
motorist Mr. AG (real name withheld) came to the Public Complaint Rapid
Response Unit (PCRRU) FHQ Abuja and reported that while driving his vehicle on
29th May, 2017 (12:30pm) along Wuse market road he was accosted by
two Traffic Wardens who accused him of “beating traffic light” despite the fact
that he did not. That the wardens started demanding for bribe before they will
allow him go and they led him to an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) not far from
the scene where he was forced to make a withdrawal of Fifteen Thousand Naira
(N15,000) from his account which he gave to the traffic wardens. He also stated
that that one of the wardens forgot his mobile phone in his car.
PCRRU immediately launched an
investigation (Tracking Number PCRRU475669), both traffic wardens
where identified and apprehended. The sum of N15,000 earlier extorted from the
complainant was recovered from both wardens (N7,500 each as money was already
shared).
Both wardens were subsequently
defaulted and referred to the Force Provost Marshal FHQ Abuja for Orderly Room
trial [photo attached] during which all witnesses were
called, exhibits were presented and defaulters (both wardens) heard. The
Adjudicating officer found both defaulters guilty as charged and recommended punishment of dismissal from service. The orderly room
proceeding has been reviewed by the appropriate NPF authority and the
punishment approved with immediate effect. Traffic warden uniforms, ID cards
and all police accoutrements issued to the men have been retrieved and all
other dismissal procedure completed.
The complainant has also been handed
back his N15,000 with an apology from the PCRRU. The visibly delighted man
while collecting his money said "I never thought this could happen in
this country; the officers punished and my money returned to me. God bless the
IG, I will go out and spread the news about PCRRU to everyone".
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General
of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris NPM, mni has commended the complainant for exposing this
unprofessional and unacceptable conduct of these traffic wardens, he also stated
that "we will not
allow corrupt practices to continue". IGP equally enjoins members of the public to make use
of the PCRRU platform which is available 24/7.
PCRRU says No to Impunity, as
promised our quick response will put a smile on your face.
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