The Imo State Police Command on Thursday arraigned three dismissed policemen for allegedly impersonating officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The dismissed cops were arrested on the orders of the state Commissioner of Police, Isaac Akinmoyede, for extorting money from suspected Internet fraudsters while claiming to be working for the EFCC.
PUNCH Metro learnt that apart from extorting huge sums of money from the cybercrime suspects, the dismissed officers confiscated their gadgets, including smart phones and laptops.
The cops were dismissed after an orderly room trial.
On Thursday, the police arraigned them on criminal charges in Owerri, the state capital.
The dismissed cops were, however, returned to custody, as the court did not sit.
A spokesperson for the police command, Orlando Ikeokwu, confirmed that the court did not sit.
Ikeokwu said the command had zero tolerance for corruption and criminality.
The state Commissioner of Police, Akinmoyede, noted that 11 cops were dismissed for corruption, while 19 others were being investigated for other unethical practices.
PUNCH
