By Secrets Reporters
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone 17, has ordered the detention of an Investigating Police Officer, Inspector Tolani, following the extortion of a total of ₦620,000 from Prince Emorioloye Owolemi in connection with the investigation of a petition involving members of the Ehinmowo family.
The development followed a complaint by Owolemi, who said the payments were made at different stages of the investigation involving Mr. Lucky Ehinmowo, Ehinmowo Igbala, Ehinmowo Kehinde and others.
According to Owolemi, the matter dates back to the submission of the original petition at Zone 17, where Inspector Tolani was assigned as the Investigating Police Officer.
Owolemi said that at the time the petition was submitted for approval, Inspector Tolani collected ₦20,000 from him, which she described as a processing fee at the AIG’s office.
He said that after the petition was approved, Inspector Tolani asked him to come to Zone 17, where she kept the received copy of the petition inside a case file and informed him that she would proceed to Ode-Mahin to arrest the suspects.
According to him, Inspector Tolani subsequently informed him that ₦100,000 would be required for transportation to Ode-Mahin, where the suspects reside.
He further stated that she told him that another ₦150,000 was required as a departmental charge which, according to her, was meant for her superior officers, while an additional ₦100,000 was required as an office charge.
Owolemi said he initially paid ₦250,000, adding that Inspector Tolani took the money to what she described as the office of her superior before returning to collect another ₦50,000.
Approximately two days later, according to the complaint, Inspector Tolani informed Owolemi that she had travelled to Ode-Mahin to arrest the suspects but encountered only the principal suspect, Mr. Lucky Ehinmowo, who she said resisted arrest.
She reportedly informed him that a traditional ruler intervened and undertook to ensure that the suspect would subsequently present himself at Zone 17.
Owolemi said he visited Inspector Tolani at Zone 17 the following day, during which she collected another ₦50,000 from him.
He said that after the payment, he received no meaningful information concerning the investigation despite repeated attempts to follow up.
Suspect appears at Zone 17
Owolemi said that around June 2026, members of the suspect’s family became involved in separate incidents investigated by the Igbokoda Police Division, resulting in arrests and separate criminal proceedings before the Igbokoda Magistrate Court.
He said Inspector Tolani later contacted him and informed him that the principal suspect, Mr. Lucky Ehinmowo, had been brought to Zone 17 and asked him to come to the Zone.
Owolemi said he informed her that he was at the Igbokoda Magistrate Court in connection with the separate cases involving members of the suspect’s family.
According to him, he visited Zone 17 the following day, where Inspector Tolani collected ₦10,000 from him and informed him that another date would be fixed for a proper briefing.
He said the briefing took place approximately two weeks later before the Head of Department.
During the briefing, according to Owolemi, the Head of Department questioned why only Mr. Lucky Ehinmowo had been brought to the Zone and why the other persons specifically named in the petition had not been arrested or invited.
Inspector Tolani reportedly responded that she had not seen the other suspects.
Owolemi said the Head of Department subsequently directed Inspector Tolani to invite the other persons named in the petition, visit and verify the alleged crime scene, complete the investigation and submit her report.
He said he subsequently received no meaningful information concerning the progress of the investigation.
According to him, he later visited Inspector Tolani at Zone 17 to inquire about the delay and the next steps in the investigation, during which she collected another ₦10,000 from him.
He said that on a subsequent visit to Zone 17 concerning the case, Inspector Tolani collected another ₦10,000.
Despite the payments and repeated follow-ups, Owolemi said he still received no meaningful information on the conclusion of the investigation.
Supplementary petition
Owolemi said he later contacted Inspector Tolani after becoming concerned that the suspects were tampering with portions of the property which constituted the alleged crime scene.
He specifically informed her that a plank church building situated on part of the family property was being tampered with and that there was an attempt to demolish or materially alter it.
According to him, Inspector Tolani informed him that the church area was not specifically mentioned in the original petition and advised him to submit a supplementary petition.
Owolemi said he subsequently prepared and submitted the supplementary petition, after which Inspector Tolani collected another ₦20,000 from him, which she again described as a processing fee required at the AIG’s office.
He said that following the payment, he again received no meaningful information concerning the investigation.
Owolemi subsequently submitted another letter directly to the AIG, Zone 17, requesting that the investigation be transferred to Igbokoda Police Division.
He said the transfer request was not submitted through Inspector Tolani and that no ₦20,000 processing fee or other processing charge was demanded from him when the letter was submitted for the attention of the AIG.
According to him, this raised questions for him concerning the earlier payments described as processing fees connected with the AIG’s office.
Approximately two weeks later, Inspector Tolani reportedly contacted Owolemi and informed him that the AIG had minuted on his transfer request and asked him to come to Zone 17.
Owolemi said his lawyers initially attended Zone 17, after which he personally visited the Zone and was taken before the Head of Department.
He said the Head of Department asked why he wanted the case transferred to a lower Police formation.
According to Owolemi, he explained the manner in which the investigation had been handled, the prolonged delay and the fact that several persons named in the petition had apparently not been invited or interviewed.
He said the Head of Department subsequently directed Inspector Tolani to immediately visit the alleged crime scene and ensure that the outstanding suspects were invited as part of concluding the investigation.
Further ₦200,000 payment
Owolemi said Inspector Tolani subsequently fixed Monday, September 14, 2026, for the inspection of the alleged crime scene at Ode-Mahin.
According to him, she informed him that ₦100,000 was required for mobilisation and vehicle expenses.
He said she also requested another ₦100,000, which she described as an office charge.
Owolemi said he questioned why another office payment was required after the various amounts he had previously paid.
According to him, Inspector Tolani responded that her superior had instructed her to collect the money.
Owolemi said he initially paid ₦100,000.
The Police team subsequently visited the alleged crime scene at Ode-Mahin on September 14, where Owolemi identified and explained relevant portions of the property in the presence of members of his family, Mr. Lucky Ehinmowo and some of his children.
He said he received no information concerning further investigative action after the inspection.
Approximately three days later, according to Owolemi, he visited Zone 17 to inquire about the progress of the investigation.
He said Inspector Tolani informed him that she had not proceeded further because he had not paid the outstanding ₦100,000 office/inspection charge.
Owolemi said he subsequently paid the additional ₦100,000.
Proposed court charges and survey plan
Owolemi said he continued to call and follow up on the investigation until Friday, September 18, 2026, when Inspector Tolani informed him that she intended to charge the suspects to court on Monday.
He said she instructed him to come to Zone 17 with what she described as a “red copy” of the survey plan relating to the family property.
According to him, Inspector Tolani said the document was required in connection with the proposed charges, including forceful entry.
Owolemi said he informed her that the surveyor had provided him with the copy of the survey plan issued to him and that he had not been given another “red copy”.
He said Inspector Tolani insisted that he contact the surveyor and obtain the document.
Owolemi subsequently contacted the surveyor and merged the telephone calls so that Inspector Tolani and the surveyor could communicate directly concerning the document.
According to Owolemi, the surveyor explained the status of the survey documentation and informed Inspector Tolani that the relevant survey records could be independently verified through the appropriate government surveying authority.
₦620,000 total payment
Owolemi said he reviewed and calculated the various payments made to Inspector Tolani in connection with the handling and investigation of the case and arrived at a total of ₦620,000.
Following the complaint, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 17, on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, interviewed Owolemi and Inspector Tolani.
The AIG also interviewed the team leader, Supol Sam.
According to the briefing, following the interviews, the AIG ordered that Inspector Tolani be detained over the allegations of corruption pending further investigation.
The AIG also directed Supol Sam to take over the matter and investigate the circumstances surrounding the allegations against Inspector Tolani.
As of September 25, 2026, the investigation into the allegations remains ongoing.
Owolemi said Supol Sam invited his lawyer to the Zonal Headquarters on Thursday, September 24, 2026, and indicated that further developments would be communicated on Monday.
In the briefing, Owolemi urged media organisations interested in reporting the matter to liaise directly with the Zone 17 Police Public Relations Officer for verification and accurate information before publication.
He said the request was intended to ensure that reports concerning the matter remained factual and consistent with the official position of the Nigeria Police Force while the allegations are under investigation.
Owolemi also requested an administrative investigation into the circumstances under which the various payments were demanded and collected, including whether they constituted officially authorised Police charges and whether they were properly receipted and accounted for.
