Efemena Richard, an up-and-coming singer, has described how certain police officers reportedly extorted N1 million from him.

The artist was also had to sign various documents and had his picture taken by the officials stationed at Lagos State’s Muritala Muhammed International Airport.

Late on Monday, October 21, 2024, an X user going by the name #HarrisonBbi18 but identifying themselves as Harrison Gwamnishu posted a video of the artist recounting his experience on his X account.

Richard told him on Instagram, Gwamnishu wrote.

“Boss, [the] police just extorted me,” the texts said. After looking through my phone at the airport and finding nothing, they stole one million naira from me.

They stopped me on my way to the airport. They [the police] had him transfer the money from his account before he could travel to Warri, Delta State, he added. “I told them I was already missing my flight, but they refused to allow me to go.”

The artist was seen in a moving vehicle in the three-minute video, which was titled “One million naira extorted from a music artist #smookyhighgrade by some police officers attached to the Beesam Police Station before Muritala Mohammed Airport, Lagos.” He claimed that the police officers had detained him and demanded $10,000 before he could board his flight at the airport.

They want ten thousand dollars. In order for me to get on my flight, they offered me papers to write on, promising to leave me if I wrote anything. It’s a lot of money, so even if I could have left it, I can’t. Please assist me, Nigerians. N1 million is a significant sum of money.

He explained that at the cops’ request, he recorded a video of one of the males, displaying the dark-stained tips of his fingers, which he claimed were evidence of thumbprints.

The performer also recounted that he was captured on camera when the cops coerced him into speaking [to demonstrate that he wasn’t under duress] and signing documents that would serve as his assent. He then instructed his sister to transfer the N1 million.

They even requested my blockchain wallet; I’m not sure why the cops are concerned about it. I’m not a scammer; I’m just a budding artist. To promote my songs, I recently travelled from South Africa. Before I saw this, I was on my way home to visit my mother.

In response to the tweet on Monday, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer, urged Benjamin Hundeyin, the PRO of the Lagos Police Command, and the PRO of the Airport Command to launch an inquiry.

To find these folks, #PoliceNG_CRU, #PoliceNG, get in touch with #BenHundeyin and PRO Airport Command, and then get back to me. “Thank you,” the tweet said.