The traffic wardens (standing) during their orderly room trial

Two Traffic Wardens, Musa Muktari and Shuaibu Suleman attached to Wuse Police Division, FCT Abuja Command have been dismissed from service with  over involvement in corrupt practice after an Orderly Room trial at the Provost Department, Force Headquarters Abuja.

Both wardens were found guilty of abuse of office, soliciting and receiving a bribe contrary to Paragraph  C sub (IV), (VI) and (II) of the 1st Schedule of the Police Act and Regulation CAP 370 of 1990 and were consequetly dismissed.

The dismissal of the traffic wardens followed a complaint lodged against them by a motorist at the Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU) Force Headquarters, Abuja on 30 May.

ACP Abayomi Shogunle, the head of the PCRRU, in a statement said the motorist had on 30 May reported that while driving his vehicle in the afternoon of the previous day along Wuse market road, he was accosted by the  two traffic wardens who accused him of “beating traffic light” despite the fact that he did not.

The motorists added that the wardens started demanding for bribe before they will allow him go and they subsequently led him to an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) not far from the scene where he was forced to make a withdrawal of N15, 000 from his account which he gave to them.

He also stated that that one of the wardens forgot his mobile phone in his car.

Shogunle added that the PCRRU immediately launched an investigation on getting the complaint.

The investigation, he said, led to the identification and arrest of both traffic wardens while the sum of N15,000  extorted from the complainant was recovered from them (N7,500 each as money was already shared).

“Both wardens were subsequently defaulted and referred to the Force Provost Marshal FHQ Abuja for Orderly Room trial [photo attached] during which all witnesses were called, exhibits were presented and defaulters (both wardens)  heard.

“The Adjudicating officer found both defaulters guilty as charged and recommended punishment of dismissal from service.

“The orderly room proceeding has been reviewed by the appropriate NPF authority and the punishment approved with immediate effect. Traffic warden uniforms, ID cards and all police accoutrements issued to the men have been retrieved and all other dismissal procedure completed.

“The complainant has also been handed back his N15, 000 with an apology from the PCRRU.

“The visibly delighted man while collecting his money said “I never thought this could happen in this country; the officers punished and my money returned to me. God bless the IG, I will go out and spread the news about PCRRU to everyone”.

Shogunle added that the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris has commended the complainant for exposing this unprofessional and unacceptable conduct of these traffic wardens, he also stated that “we will not allow corrupt practices to continue”.