The Lagos State Police Command has urged residents not to pay any fee when filing complaints or securing bail at any police station, warning that such payments are illegal and should be reported.
CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the state, made the appeal on Wednesday in Lagos, responding to reports of persistent extortion by police officers despite public awareness campaigns that bail is free.
Speaking to journalists, Hundeyin said members of the public must resist and report extortion, noting that complaints can be made through the command’s Complaint Response Unit (CRU).
“People should not succumb to extortion; rather, they should make a formal complaint of officers who demand money for any offence to the state through CRU of the Lagos State Police Command,” he said.
Furthermore, he cited a case where a complainant called the CRU after being asked for money and was released without payment following the unit’s intervention.
“People should learn to take advantage of solutions that the police have made available,” Hundeyin added.
The call comes amid fresh concerns from Lagos residents who say officers are demanding money to file complaints or grant bail, contrary to the Nigeria Police Force’s public stance that “bail is free.”
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CSP Hundeyin reiterated that such actions are corrupt and unacceptable.
In addition, he urged members of the public to refuse such demands and to report the incidents promptly, assuring them that the command remains committed to accountability and internal discipline.
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