The African Youth Development Alliance has faulted a report by Sahara Reporters alleging that officers of the Nigeria Police Force’s Special Investigation Unit (SIU) extorted N5 million from an Abuja-based businessman for bail, describing the publication as misleading and lacking credible evidence.
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Busola Tejumola, the group said its independent findings showed that Abiodun Adekunle Fasasi did not at any time demand or collect N5 million from Abuja-based businessman or any other person in connection with bail.
The Alliance noted that receipts cited in the report do not bear Fasasi’s name nor establish any connection to alleged intermediaries, describing this as a major gap that undermines the credibility of the claims.
It further dismissed allegations that Fasasi threatened detainees with multiple charges, including cybercrime, drug-related offences, tax evasion, money laundering, and other offences, stating that such claims were fabricated and should be disregarded.
The group also rejected assertions that the officer discouraged the involvement of legal representation or warned against escalating the matter, saying such claims contradict standard police procedures.
The Alliance further dismissed allegations of extortion levelled against officers handling an ongoing investigation, stating that the claims are false and intended to discredit the process.
According to sources familiar with the case, the suspect, allegedly recorded police officers during an operation while verbally abusing them and calling them derogatory names.
Authorities further disclosed that the Abuja-based businessman initially refused to open his door to the officers, despite being shown both an arrest warrant and a search warrant through a window. He was said to have later escaped through the back door, during which time he allegedly deleted key evidence before being apprehended.
Police sources confirmed that his mobile phone has since been seized and forwarded to a forensic laboratory for digital analysis as part of ongoing investigations.
During interrogation, the suspect reportedly admitted to the crime and confessed to using proceeds from illicit activities to acquire properties in the past.
Investigators also revealed that the suspect had previously been arrested in 2023 by the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) over alleged involvement in cybercrime and money laundering, with the case still under investigation. His brother, was also linked to cybercrime activities, with incriminating evidence reportedly recovered from his phone.
Police source emphasized that investigations are still ongoing and cautioned against attempts to defame officers involved in the case, reiterating their commitment to due process and justice.
Challenging the accuser, the Alliance called on the Abuja-based businessman to provide verifiable evidence of the alleged N10 million bail demand and the purported negotiation to N5 million, insisting that the claims remain unsubstantiated without proof.
The statement also defended the Officer in Charge of the SIU, Moses Jolugbo, describing him as a professional with a track record of integrity, and dismissed suggestions that internal complaint mechanisms had failed as “entirely false.”
The Alliance urged media organisations to uphold ethical standards by verifying information before publication and avoiding sensational reports that could erode public trust in institutions. It reiterated its commitment to promoting accountability, fairness, and truth in public discourse.
