Lagos Police Command To Sanction Officers For Demanding Bribe From Drone Operator On Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge

Lagos Police Command To Sanction Officers For Demanding Bribe From Drone Operator On Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge

The Lagos State Police Command has responded to a viral video showing two police officers demanding a drone permit from an individual operating a drone on the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge……READ ALSO Lagos Police Affirm Right To Request Drone Permits

In the video, the officers could be seen interrogating a cyclist and asking for a permit for the drone operation. The cyclist expressed surprise at the requirement for a permit to fly a drone in Nigeria. The officers stated that a permit from either the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) or the police was necessary. The encounter escalated when the officers were caught on camera allegedly soliciting a bribe after delaying the individual for over an hour.

In a statement, the spokesperson for the state police command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, affirmed that the officers were acting within the confines of the law by requesting a permit. He highlighted Nigerian aviation laws which mandate obtaining a permit from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for operating drones weighing more than 250 grams anywhere in the country.

However, Hundeyin condemned the unprofessional conduct of the officers, particularly their attempt to extort the drone operator, as depicted in the video’s conclusion.

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Adegoke Fayoade, has instructed the Commanding Officer of 49 PMF Akodo, under whose squadron the officers were posted to the bridge, to produce the officers for appropriate disciplinary measures.

The incident underscores the importance of upholding professional standards within the police force and ensuring accountability for misconduct. Watch the video below for more details.