Policemen attached to the Area H Police Command in Ogudu, Lagos State, have been accused of extorting $2,000 (about N3.33 million) from a couple allegedly wrongfully arrested on December 18, 2025. According to reports, the incident came to public attention after it was exposed on social media platform X, prompting the police to refund N2.2 million to the victims. However, the officers were said to be pleading to retain N1 million of the money, offering to return only an additional N100,000 on the grounds that the funds had already been shared among several personnel.
Speaking to the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), a friend of the couple, identified as Abiodun Alabi (not his real name), narrated that the couple was stopped by police operatives while travelling out of Lagos in the early hours of December 18. He alleged that the man was profiled, threatened and had his phones seized before both husband and wife were taken to the Ogudu Police Station. At the station, the woman was reportedly made to wait outside while the man was compelled to write an incriminating statement without legal representation. The police allegedly demanded $5,000 in USDT, but after negotiations, the man, under duress, agreed to pay $2,000. The sum was reportedly transferred to a wallet address provided by the officers, who later deleted evidence of the transaction, although a copy was preserved through a third-party wallet used for the transfer.