A Nigerian lawyer has accused police officers operating along the Lagos airport route of allegedly extorting ₦3.1 million from his client after stopping him while travelling to or from the airport.
In a video circulating online, the lawyer appealed to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the alleged incident and address claims of harassment involving travellers along the route.
According to the lawyer, his client was stopped by the officers, who reportedly demanded to see his flight ticket before proceeding to search his phone.
He alleged that the officers subsequently took his client to a police facility on Alhaji Aziz Street, Shogunle, Ikeja, where they allegedly threatened him, pressured him into making self-incriminating statements and collected ₦3.1 million from him under duress.
The lawyer further claimed that the officers allegedly used point-of-sale (POS) agents and third-party bank accounts to receive the money rather than their personal accounts.
He said a formal petition would be submitted to the appropriate authorities to seek an investigation into the allegations. He also warned POS agents suspected of facilitating the transactions that they could be investigated as part of the case.
The lawyer urged Nigerians travelling through airports to remain vigilant when dealing with law enforcement officers. He also advised individuals taken into police custody to seek legal representation before making statements.
The allegations have raised concerns about the treatment of travellers and the need for accountability in police operations. The claims have not been independently verified, and an official response from the police was not included in the account.