(Reuters) – It was a crime so familiar to inhabitants of Nigeria’s corruption-ridden main metropolis that few would have batted an eyelid had the victim not managed to record the whole incident on a secret camera.

The outcome was much rarer – a policeman sacked for trying to extort money from a motorist over a supposed traffic offence.

It was a scene that happens every day. A policeman stops a car on a busy Lagos street and accuses the driver of flouting some traffic rule – one that may be real or imaginary in a vast, chaotic city of 21 million people where motorists often seem oblivious to any rules.

The policeman then opens the door to the passenger seat, enters and demands a large amount of money from the motorist – in this case 25,000 Nigerian naira ($160).

Nigeria’s central police command confirmed overnight that Sergeant Chris Omeleze had been dismissed after being caught on camera trying to extort the bribe from a motorist who was leaving Lagos international airport.

“I want to gladly report that in less than 24 hours after we got wind of that story, the police officer was identified, arrested … (and) dismissed from the police force,” police spokesman Frank Mba said on Channels Television on Thursday. Omeleze had been a policeman for 21 years, said Mba.

The video has received 117,500 hits on YouTube, been retweeted and replayed on all Nigeria’s main TV channels.

Omeleze originally asks the driver for 25,000 naira but the man protests that 2,000 naira is all he has.

The policeman says this is not enough, adding: “I am not working alone. Look, if you enter this compound (the police station), you will pay bigger money.”

He then appears to notice the man has some dollars, but the driver says that he needs them for excess luggage.

After much argument, the policeman appears to make a phone call to a colleague and tells him the driver refuses to pay up. He then advises the driver that he had been instructed to book him for the traffic offence.

Analysts say corrupt police officers in Africa’s most populous country do not work alone but are part of a mafia-like racketeering network going far up the chain of command.

It often worsens during election cycles when politicians, who wield influence over police, need more money for patronage.

Mba denied that the policeman had an accomplice in the precinct station, saying he made a pretend call in order to “blackmail” the motorist he had pulled over.

“As a matter of fact he made no calls. He wanted to fool the citizen into believing there were some superior forces involved.”

It was not known whether the sacked policeman would be prosecuted, as Mba could not be reached for further comment.

($1 = 160 naira)

doctimi: Nigerian Police Force has dismissed the Sgt. Caught on tape while negotiating bribe with a traffic offender. Just saw that on channels TV now. See details here. http://www.africanspotlight.com/2013/08/07/bribe-nigerian-police-dismiss-officer-caught-on-tape-demanding-bribe/
By the way, what happens to the other officer 'Yusuf' and the oga' he mentioned over the phone.

antartica: How about the oga he called on the phone the negotiate the bribe price?Corruption in nigerian police force is a norm that the socalled ig is a part and parcel of.

Ogbeche77: that's character assassination, have you any evidence that the IG is part of this corrupt cartel? The man has been doing his best since he assumed office, our police officers need re-orientation

antartica: How about the oga he called on the phone the negotiate the bribe price?Corruption in nigerian police force is a norm that the socalled ig is a part and parcel of.

gerald09:
I agree but it takes 1 person to create change thanks to d camera dude/lady 1 down plenty more to go na small small. If u do ur own part as a Nigerian u will get dat oga too cut and dismissed don't just stay on NL to complain, take 1 down.

antartica:

It is like asking the same about the president when it is obvious he is thief like the rest of the politicians.My friend forget all the facts nonsense,nigeria is ruled by prolific thieves and that is why those that can not steal are chronically suffering.The country requires bloody revolution to flush all the animals out,if not nothing will change.

Ogbeche77: Bro what we need is re orientation & not bloody revolution.. We should learn from events in Libya, Egypt, Tunisia & Syria in recent days, revolution ll never take the sycophants out of power, it ll only take the country 1,000 years behind... You don't want your grand kids to spit on your grave, do you?

antartica:

Are u implying arab spring is bloodless?Don't you know how thousands have died so far across the arab world since the spring began?Nothing good comes on a platter,especially in situation where fundamental ignorance has eaten deep into the fibre of the society like nigerian society.Not one single thing is upright in nigeria,not even christianity.Everything is crooked,everybody is crooked and twisted down to even children.

Ogbeche77: I never mentioned the arab uprising is bloodless..yes, everything is so messed up in Nigeria but a bloody revolution ain't the solution trust me..
The arab nations that have tried it are currently regretting it, even with there one language & religion that they practice. A country like Libya is witnessing an a bloody ethnic war, Egypt & Tunisia are yet to get there bearing..
Now think of a revolution in Nigeria where tribalism is the order of the day, coupled with over 250 ethnic groups with religious intolerance.. O boy.. You don't wanna think of it.. It will be counter productive

antartica:

So what do think will be a solution in a place like nigeria where people generally see honest and hard working people as foolish people because it is easy to get into a position of authority,steal and become bastardly overnight rich without anybody raising an eyebrow? What kind of orientational drive will change that when almost the whole country think that way?