Police checkpoint sting hits Nigeria’s anti‑corruption chief

Four traffic officers, accused of setting up an illegal checkpoint to extort money from drivers, picked on the wrong person: Musa Aliyu, the head of Nigeria’s anti‑corruption agency.

Aliyu was stopped on a busy Abuja road and forced to withdraw 53,000 naira from a cash machine before the officers demanded payment for “violating traffic rules.” The officers claimed the fine would be 52,000 naira if the case went to court, but added it was a bribe.

Police Commissioner Ahmed Sanusi said the suspects had abandoned official posts to run the roadblock and called the conduct “extremely disgraceful.” The Commissioner warned that the police command would not tolerate abuses of power.

The incident led to an intelligence‑driven operation that arrested the alias ringleader and the other officers. They now face a police disciplinary procedure that could result in dismissal, a rare move in such cases.

The case highlights the need for stronger oversight of law enforcement and brings renewed scrutiny to police‑public interactions in Nigeria.