KEY POINTS
- Lagos electrician Sunday Moses Olugbemi alleges police detained him for four days over a missing phone that was later found.
- He claims officers demanded and received ₦45,000 from his wife before releasing him.
- Take It Back Movement has condemned the alleged extortion and called for investigation, compensation and sanctions against any officers found culpable.
A Lagos-based electrician, Sunday Moses Olugbemi, has alleged that police officers arrested and detained him for four days over the alleged theft of a mobile phone, despite the device later being found.
Olugbemi claimed that he was also forced to pay ₦45,000 before he could regain his freedom.
The electrician made the allegations in a video obtained by SaharaReporters on Sunday, August 23, 2026, where he recounted what he described as an unjust arrest and detention.
According to him, the incident occurred shortly after he completed electrical work at the residence of a police officer popularly known as “Pastor.”
Olugbemi said he was introduced to the officer because of his experience as an electrician and was contracted to complete electrical installations at the residence.
Spent Five Days Completing Electrical Work
The electrician said he spent approximately five days at the residence to ensure that the work was completed properly.
He said the officer’s wife, identified as Mrs Oluremi, returned from London while the work was ongoing and expressed satisfaction with the quality of the job.
According to Olugbemi, she told him that another electrician who had previously been engaged for the project had collected money but failed to complete the work.
Olugbemi said he eventually finished the electrical work on a Friday and informed Mrs Oluremi that he was preparing to leave.
He alleged that she contacted her husband, who assured him that he would be paid for the work before he returned home.
The electrician said he subsequently left the residence at about 2pm and returned home to spend time with his family.
Olugbemi alleged that his situation changed several hours later when police officers arrived at his residence at about 8pm.
According to him, the officers accused him of stealing a mobile phone from the residence where he had carried out the electrical work.
He said he denied the allegation and insisted that he had not taken any phone.
However, Olugbemi alleged that the officers told him he would confess once he was taken to the police station.