FIJ reports that officers attached to the Area H Police Command in Ogudu, Lagos State, allegedly stopped a couple travelling out of Lagos before 6am on December 18, 2025, seized the man’s phones, and took both husband and wife to the Ogudu Police Station.

The report says the woman was made to sit outside while the man was taken in to write a statement without his lawyer present. FIJ further states the officers initially demanded $5,000 in USDT, but the couple—under duress—eventually paid $2,000 (about ₦3.33m) to a wallet address provided by the policemen, after which traces of the transfer were allegedly deleted.

According to FIJ, a complaint was escalated to the Police Complaints Response Unit (CRU), leading the victims and a friend to return to the station on December 23 to identify the officers involved. FIJ says the officers later began refunding the money in parts after the case gained traction online, returning ₦2m first, then an additional ₦200,000—while reportedly asking to keep about ₦1m and return only ₦100,000 more because the funds had been shared among multiple officers.

FIJ added that the officer contacted for comment, Olumide Jegede, said he could not speak on the matter at press time and asked the reporter to visit his office on Monday for follow-up.