Police allegedly extorted Netherland based software engineer of N100k after seeing him with a laptop

[Envy 7]

 

Nigerian man based in Netherland has recount how he was allegedly extorted by Nigerian police for being with a laptop.

According to the Twitter user Femi, some police officer allegedly extorted N100k from him after asking him to initially pay N500k for carrying a laptop on his way to the airport.

Recounting the incident, Femi said he was on his way to the airport today, January 14 when the incident happened. After they search him and couldn’t pin him with a crime, they insisted he followed them to the station for carrying two laptops.

“Earlier today, officers of @PoliceNG robbed me of 100k in the presence of my wife. My only crime was having my official laptop with me. They couldn’t pin any crime on me so they insisted I follow them to station or pay 500k. I was running late for my flight, so I had to be…

“I tweeted this just before my flight took off, so I didn’t see the replies until now that I’m home. A few people have reached out to me about the issue and I will reply once I settle in. I appreciate the support from everyone.”

“For the sake of transparency, I will drop details about the event including payment methods and receipts. I also want to categorically state that I was very cooperative and engaging. My communication was totally aimed at de-escalation.”

The software engineers berates some Twitter users who asked why he paid the money, after they insinuated that he had something to hide since he paid the police officers the money.

In response to his critics, Femi revealed that he works in Netherland as a software engineer and that not an internet scammer as many presumed.

“I’ve seen comments insinuating that I tweeted half truth, some are blaming me for paying while others think I had a skeleton in my cupboard. Omo mo phor o 😂. This is how typical Nigerians think: We choose to blame victims of unfortunate situations rather than give them justice.”

“First of all, I’m a software engineer previously with @Andela and now with @BrightComputing in Netherlands. I AM NOT A YAHOO BOY AND I WILL NEVER BE ONE. I only came home for Christmas and was returning to my base and I know better than to let Nigerian police delay me.”

He also revealed that when he was stopped, the alleged police men accused his and his wife of not putting on a mask as he admitted that they were not wearing a nose mask like the police officers said.

However, he said he explained that they were rushing to meet up with his flight and that he showed them a pack of nose masks and bottle sanitizer they had but that the officers later proceeded to search his luggage.

Sharing his story in a long Twitter threads, he wrote;

“When the police stopped us at 7/8 bus top, they first accused my wife and I of not wearing nose masks. Indeed we didn’t, but that was only because we were in a rush. I explained this and even showed them a pack of masks and a bottle of sanitizer.

“They proceeded to check my luggage, then asked what I was doing with two laptops. I explained that one was my personal computer and the other was official. They demanded to see my company id, and I further explained my company does not issue id since it’s almost…

“irrelevant. However, I showed them my NL residential permit as a proof that I live and work over there. It was at this point that they stopped talking and got into the Bolt ride with me. Then two others got into their rickety korope bus and we followed.

“After about 300m, we drove into a street opposite Ajao Estate junction and drove for about 150m. All while asking me to pay 500k. I told them I needed to catch a flight but my words fell on deaf ears. They kept yelling and at a point stopped my ride and asked me to get.

“In their bus. I knew getting in the bus would fuck me up – on a good day, I drag with police but I didn’t have the luxury of time – so I had to find a solution quick. We started negotiating my release. I went as low as 50k but they would rather bundle me in their bus than take.”

a measly 50k. After we agreed on 100, they took me on a bike me to an access bank ATM,  a few meters from where we parked – where I withdrew 80k. Because I had earlier made some withdrawals, I couldn’t go pass 80k, so I was taken to a Paga shop – also within the axis – where I withdrew the last 20,400 (400 being the charge for paga transaction). Now that they had the money, they started acting all nice and brotherly. One even asked for my complementary card, while another jokingly remarked “Guy, your wife dey panick o”.

“I cannot identify these officers by name, neither can I identify their vehicle (a silly mistake on my part), however, I recognize the faces of the two that really engaged me. This is my submission.”

Earlier today, officers of @PoliceNG robbed me of 100k in the presence of my wife. My only crime was having my official laptop with me. They couldn’t pin any crime on me so they insisted I follow them to station or pay 500k. I was running late for my flight, so I had to be…

— Femi #EndSARSNow 🦟 (@3eyedpixel) January 13, 2021

Meanwhile, he also shared evidence of the five bank transactions he made. See screenshot below.