Nigerian Police Initiate Trial Of Four Officers Accused Of Detaining Actor, Others For Having ‘Fake Dollars Used In Movies’

Four officers from the Imo State Command of the Nigerian Police Force are facing an orderly room trial following accusations of extortion highlighted in a viral video.

The officers involved—Inspector Ibrahim Nainna, Unaka Maxvirgin, Inspector Miller Ibinitta, and Sergeant Antony Alozie—have been detained after the video of their alleged misconduct was circulated online by Young C Entertainment.

Henry Okoye, spokesperson for the state police command, in a statement on Thursday, said the trial is designed to investigate the claims made by Young C Entertainment and prosecute any officers found guilty.
Additionally, the state police commissioner, CP Aboki Danjuma, has begun a physical assessment of the conditions of suspects currently held in police cells within the command.

Okoye stated, “The Commissioner of Police in Imo state, CP Aboki Danjuma, and his management team are actively conducting inspections across various police divisions and tactical teams.

“This initiative aims to assess the conditions of suspects in detention and ensure that no individual is held beyond the legal limits. This move reflects a commitment to upholding the rights of detainees and improving overall police accountability.”

Young C Entertainment, a male online content promoter, had taken to social media to accuse the anti-narcotics unit of the state criminal investigation department (CID) of maltreatment, extortion, illegal arrest, detention, and abandonment.

According to him, while travelling to shoot a movie, the four policemen stopped their vehicle and arrested them, despite their insistence that the fake currency they possessed was for movie production, as indicated on the papers.

He further alleged that they were imprisoned in cell 12 alongside other detainees, one of whom experienced an asthma attack due to the conditions.

Young C Entertainment also reported that many individuals in cell 12 were denied access to food, family contact, and medical treatment, leading to their starvation and suffering.

In a 13-minute, 52-second video, Somto Okonkwo recounted the incident, stating that police officers stopped them while en route to the MTN office to recover a lost SIM card. Despite identifying himself as a journalist and member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), the officers reportedly demanded a N1.5 million bribe, alleging they were carrying counterfeit US dollars used as movie props.