The Police Service Commission (PSC) Chairman, retired DIG Hashimu Argungu, abruptly announced his withdrawal from the investigation, sparking widespread outrage.

A shocking twist has emerged in the ongoing investigation into the alleged N62million extortion by the Enugu State Police Command's anti-kidnapping squad. 

The Police Service Commission (PSC) Chairman, retired DIG Hashimu Argungu, abruptly announced his withdrawal from the investigation, sparking widespread outrage.

Sources told SaharaReporters on Thursday that Argungu's sudden exit came during a heated hearing at the PSC conference hall on Wednesday, February 26, 2025. 

According to one of the sources, the chairman, visibly restless and under intense pressure, directed the parties to return to the Inspector-General of Police, citing the commission's lack of power to investigate the matter.

The investigation revolves around the alleged extortion of N62million from a businessman, Mr. Olu Agwu, who was unlawfully abducted, blindfolded, transported from Abia State to Enugu and detained for three days without access to family and friends. 

SaharaReporters has been reporting on the incident, revealing shocking details of police misconduct and extortion in the case.

On February 25, SaharaReporters reported that the Police Service Commission had directed the Enugu anti-kidnapping squad to transport to Abuja the Toyota Hilux vehicle seized from businessman Mr. Olu Agwu, who was allegedly extorted of N62 million following his unlawful abduction and detention.

As reported, SaharaReporters gathered that the policemen at the Enugu anti-kidnapping squad, complied and transported the hillux vehicle to PSC headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday as directed. 

But in a surprising turn of events, Argungu, the PSC chairman denied ordering the Enugu anti-kidnapping squad to transport the seized Toyota Hilux vehicle to Abuja, despite the officers' insistence that he had given the directive. 

A source who was present at the PSC headquarters on Wednesday, told SaharaReporters that the chairman's denial sparked heated arguments, with the policemen standing by their claim.

The PSC Chairman also lashed out at the deputy director of the investigation panel, one Mr. George, for alleged bias and siding with the police. Argungu further criticised George for appearing drunk during the hearing.

George, according to one of sources, claimed that he is from Imo State with the CP Enugu State, Mr Kanayo Uzuegbu, who had been implicated in the N62 million extortion scheme.

The source revealed that prior to the hearing on Wednesday, Argungu had directed attendees to surrender their phones before entering the hall, reportedly due to SaharaReporters' ongoing coverage of the incident, which the PSC chairman is no longer comfortable.

During the hearing, according to the source, the DPO of Abiriba, Sunday Ebiri, confirmed to the Panel that the policemen from Enugu never stopped at the station while leaving Abia State after allegedly abducting Mr. Olu Agwu.

Additionally, Mr. Michael Umeh, who claimed Mr. Olu Agwu kidnapped him, was unable to provide evidence of paying N400 million in ransom. His lawyers objected to providing additional statements, and they walked out of the panel.

But before then, the source noted Mr. Michael Umeh, who wrote the petition against Mr. Olu Agwu, was questioned about his kidnapping claims. He replied that police elders advised him to drop "the labels of IPOB, ESN, and kidnapper".

The panel laughed, suggesting that Mr. Umeh was used to extort money from Mr. Olu.

A source provided a detailed account of the Investigation Panel's proceedings. "Yesterday, the PSC chairman instructed certain individuals to report to the commission panel. They include Chinedu Ike Onwuka, also known as Oji Aka Egbu Ele, whose account was used to collect N30 million; Hon Ochi Nonso, who brought lawyer Barr Emeka Abba; and others.

"The chairman also directed the following persons to appear before the panel: Hon Johnson Chukwuemeka Omeke, who collected 10% of the N100 million forced from Mr. Olu on behalf of the police; Mr. Michael Mgboji Umeh, who wrote the petition against Olu; Commander of Anti-Kidnapping Squad (AKS), SP Chukwuka Odom; his second-in-command, Mr. Jude Onyekachi Ezeibe; Investigating Police Officer (IPO) Sergeant Sabastine Onyeisi, who fraudulently used Emmanuel Ahamefuna to register his line; and Mr. Olu Agwu."

The source continued, "At Wednesday's hearing, Chinedu (Oji Aka Egbu Ele) failed to appear, claiming to be in an African country en route to the UK. However, phone analysis revealed he was in Aba South, Abia State."

The source explained that when the PSC Chairman came in, "he lashed the deputy director of the panel, Mr George, for being bias and siding the police. He said that now that he has known the real truth, therefore he’s exonerating himself from this matter.

"He also slammed the deputy director for coming drunk to the panel. He questioned how he even made him the deputy director of that team. 

"The PSC Chairman, handed the case file the police in Enugu had submitted to the commission to the PSC panel in front of all saying, 'The commission has no power of investigation of such matter. The commission's duty is to carry out fact-finding and hand over their findings to the IGP for implementation. 

"Turning to the police officers from Enugu, holding a printout of SaharaReporters' report, he said "I never ordered you to bring the Hilux vehicle to Abuja." 

He maintained that he never asked for the car to be brought to Abuja while the policemen insisted he did direct them to bring it.

The source further noted that after the arguments, the PSC Chairman washed his hands off the matter. 

Counsel to Mr Olu Agwu, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) while responding to SaharaReporters' inquiry into the development at the PSC Panel on Wednesday, vowed that nobody could bury the matter no matter how highly placed.

He said: "My petition is having the desired effect. No one can bury this matter. We are in a civilised world, for God's sake."

Meanwhile, SaharaReporters' efforts to speak with the PSC Spokesperson, Mr Ikechukwu Ani, were unsuccessful as he did not take his calls. 

However, in a reply to inquiries from Executive Director Rule of Law and Accountability Centre (RULAAC), Okechukwu Nwanguma, over the alleged bias by the commission, the PSC Spokesperson said that the Chairman had asked the Panel to conclude their report.

He said: "The Chairman directed that they should quickly conclude what they are doing and get their report ready, which will be sent to the Police."

SaharaReporters previously reported Agwu’s account of being coerced into paying N62million into various accounts linked to senior police officers to avoid detection.

This was allegedly part of a scheme that falsely labelled high-profile victims as members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) or Eastern Security Network (ESN) to extort them.

Although the Enugu State Police Command denied the allegations in a statement by its spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, SaharaReporters on Saturday released further details linking Commissioner of Police, Kanayo Uzuegbu, to the extortion scheme.

On Friday, SaharaReporters revealed that the PSC acknowledged multiple cases of serious human rights violations in the South-East region by officers of the Nigeria Police Force.

The Chairman of the Commission, retired DIG Hashimu Argungu, had made this admission at the Southeast Stakeholders Summit on Peace and Security and Public Hearing on Human Rights Violations.

He stated that the commission was fully aware that security checkpoints set up by law enforcement agencies had effectively turned the South-East into toll gates, where road users were allegedly forced at gunpoint to pay bribes.

As the investigation continues, concerns about police misconduct and extortion remain. 

The PSC Chairman's sudden exit has raised questions about the integrity of the investigation and the ability of the police to hold their own accountable.

The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with many calling for a thorough investigation into the allegations. The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has demanded an independent investigation into the allegations of kidnapping, extortion, and abuse of power involving officers of the Enugu State Police Command.