By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Nigerian officials’ notoriety for bribery and corruption has led to the arrest of 15 Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) officials in a joint sting operation led by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
They were caught with money extorted from motorists in Adamawa, Gombe, Ondo and Osun States in the sixth phase of ‘Operation Tranquility’ mounted by the ICPC, FRSC, and the Department of State Services (DSS).
Operation Tranquility, which seeks to end extortion of money from motorists and other illegal practices by FRSC officials, led to the arrest of seven officials on Jimeta township routes and Yola Expressway in Adamawa.
Extorted money was recovered from them in the raid, according to a joint statement issued by ICPC spokesperson Azuka Ogugua and FRSC spokesperson Bisi Kazeem.
Four FRSC officials were arrested on Gombe township routes and another four on Ikare township routes in Ondo.
The team noted that, to avoid being seen by passersby, FRSC officials sometimes enter vehicles to negotiate and collect bribe and also engage council revenue collectors as agents to cover their tracts.
Two patrol teams in Adamawa and Gombe were not involved in any illegal act as they were recorded on surveillance camera checking documentations and ensuring the road worthiness of vehicles.
All those arrested have been granted administrative bail and investigation still going to ensure that those culpable are appropriately punished, the ICPC said.