Lagos Police Detain Officer Who Allegedly Extorted ₦10,000 from Motorist Over ‘Ash vs Grey’ Colour Dispute

Akahi News learnt that the Lagos State Police Command has detained an officer attached to Area M Command following allegations that he extorted ₦10,000 from a motorist in Idimu over a disputed vehicle colour. The incident has sparked outrage across social media, with many questioning how low the police have fallen.

The matter came to light after a viral social media post on Monday by a user identified as @epiccycl, which showed the officer allegedly counting money after the driver claimed he had negotiated an initial ₦30,000 demand down to ₦10,000 before being allowed to leave. The video is damning. The officer is seen counting cash. The driver is explaining what happened. And the world is watching.

When a police officer stops a motorist and demands ₦30,000 over whether a car is “ash” or “grey,” something has gone terribly wrong with law enforcement in this country. Is that not the same colour? Are Nigerians being extorted over semantics now?

Driver’s Account: ‘They Verified My Documents, Then Insisted on Ash vs Grey’

Akahi News gathered that according to the motorist, the officer stopped him and requested his vehicle documents, which were verified by multiple officers. Despite confirming that the car’s registered colour was “ash,” the officer allegedly insisted it was “grey” and threatened arrest.

The driver said he was told to pay ₦30,000 to avoid being taken into custody but eventually settled for ₦10,000 after negotiations. Yes, negotiations. Like a market. Like a bargain between a buyer and a seller. Except this was a police stop, and the currency was a citizen’s freedom.

It was alleged that the Police Complaint Response Unit had earlier indicated that the officer was identified and queried, adding that further investigation is underway and the outcome will be made public. But the public has seen enough. A video. An officer counting money. A driver explaining how he was forced to pay.

Confirming the development, police spokesperson Abimbola Adebisi stated that the officer has been identified and is currently in detention while investigations continue. She assured the public that updates would be provided as the inquiry progresses.

“At any point when there is an update, the public will be duly informed through an official statement. For now, the officer is under detention and investigations are ongoing,” she said.

Akahi News had earlier reported on the endemic issue of police extortion on Nigerian roads. From “illegal plate numbers” to “wrong tints” to “expired papers,” officers have become creative in finding excuses to demand money. But this “ash vs grey” excuse takes the creativity to a new low—and a new level of absurdity.

It is not a child’s play for an officer to detain a motorist over a colour that arguably does not exist. Grey and ash are essentially the same. Any reasonable person knows this. But the officer was not being reasonable. He was being predatory.

The Lagos State Police Command has taken the right step by detaining the officer. But one detention will not solve the systemic rot. There are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of officers across Nigeria doing the same thing every day. They stop. They threaten. They collect. They move on to the next victim.

Authorities have reiterated their commitment to accountability, noting that appropriate action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation. That is the standard line. Nigerians have heard it before. What they need to see is not statements, but convictions. Officers who extort must not just be detained; they must be dismissed and prosecuted.

The motorist who was extorted may never get his ₦10,000 back. But if this case leads to a real consequence for the officer, perhaps other officers will think twice before inventing “ash vs grey” as a reason to fleece citizens.

For now, one officer is in detention. The video continues to circulate. And Nigerians are left asking: how low will the police go? The answer, it seems, is as low as the citizens allow them to.

Key Summary Box

What happened: A Lagos State police officer attached to Area M Command was detained after allegedly extorting ₦10,000 from a motorist in Idimu over a dispute about whether the vehicle colour was “ash” or “grey.”

How it started: The officer stopped the motorist, verified his documents (which showed “ash” as the registered colour), but insisted it was “grey” and threatened arrest.

The extortion: The officer allegedly demanded ₦30,000 to avoid arrest. After negotiations, the driver paid ₦10,000. A viral video shows the officer counting the money.

Police response: Spokesperson Abimbola Adebisi confirmed the officer has been identified and is in detention. Investigations are ongoing.

Why it matters to Nigerians: The incident highlights the persistent problem of police extortion on Nigerian roads and raises questions about accountability and discipline within the force.

Bottom line: An officer demanded ₦30,000 over a colour that doesn’t exist. He settled for ₦10,000. Now he is in detention. But Nigerians are asking: how many others are still on the road doing the same thing?