NBS Report about Corruption in Police Misleading, Says Police
NBS Report about Corruption in Police Misleading, Says Police
The Nigerian Police yesterday
debunked claims contained in a report recently released by the National
Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and
Crime (UNODC) which rated the Police as the most corrupt institution in
Nigeria. Police Public Relations Officer, CPS Jimoh Moshood said the
report failed in many respect to appraise the tremendous efforts by the
Police to rid itself of corruption.
He stated: “The Nigeria
Police, after a careful study of the report, wishes to state
categorically that it is entirely misleading, a clear misrepresentation
of facts, essentially based on hearsays which made it unempirical, and
the survey instrument absolutely inadequate and therefore a plain
distortion of the improved situation in the force as a result of the
renewed commitment and determination to fight corruption, bribery and
corrupt tendencies in the ranks of the personnel of the Force. “For the
avoidance of doubt, since the inception of the present administration of
the Nigeria Police in July 2016, after the reported survey has been
conducted and concluded, the Inspector-General of Police has introduced
and implemented diverse internal reforms aimed at bringing corruption to
zero level in the Force.”
The Police spokesman said
this was to ensure that Police officers operate within the principles of
the rule of law and respects the rights of Nigerians while performing
their constitutional duties of protecting lives and property and to
abhor corruption. CPS Jimoh Moshood added: “Similarly, to further make
police officers imbibe a culture where the rule of law forms the bedrock
of our actions and activities, and give the fight against corruption
the bite and new impetus, this administration has commenced the training
of officers on the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA). “The
Act is considered an important legislation because of its innovative
provisions, and every Police officer has been enjoined to follow
strictly the provisions of the Act. “This will, to a very large extent,
reduce and eliminate instances of unlawful arrests, illegal detentions
and inhuman treatments in the police stations across the country that
can tempt officers to corruption.
“The X-Squad Unit of the
Force responsible for the arrest, detention, investigation and
prosecution of any officer found wanting and culpable of corruption,
bribery or corrupt tendencies has been reinvigorated, equipped and its
personnel retrained with detachments in all the Thirty Six (36) States
of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory Abuja to deal
decisively with corruption allegations made against police officers to
eliminate corruption in the Force.” He observed that the Re-launch of
Complaint Response Unit (CRU) to a more broadened Public Complaints
Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU) was carried out by the current Police
Management team to facilitate dynamism and to promptly address
complaints against officers of the Force bothering on corruption. “This
unit is responsible for receiving and attending to reports of corruption
from members of the public against Police officers. It was re-launched
by the Inspector General of Police in Abuja in late 2016 and
subsequently launched simultaneously by Commissioners of Police in all
the Commands of the Thirty Six (36) States of the Federation and the FCT
last year.
“This has engendered change
of attitudes and good disposition in the conduct of Police Personnel
throughout the country towards abstaining from corruption. “However, it
must be pointed out that the Nigeria Police sees the report as a clear
demonstration of mischief and calculated attempt to promote campaign of
calumny against Police officers. “Nowhere in the report were references
made to either the improved transparency in the Nigeria Police or the
sustained daily sacrifice being made by gallant officers and men of the
force in confronting criminalities in the society.
“The renewed determination of
the Force to adhere to International Police Reforms and conform to
standard principles, building trust and confidence in the citizenry and
above all comply and support the Federal Government War Against
Corruption remained unequivocal and unwavering,” Moshood stated. The
NBS/UNODC report was based on a survey conducted in April and May, 2016
across the 36 states of the Federation and the FCT. “The deliberately
ill-timed release of the findings from a survey carried out in 2016, is
coming at a time when the Nigeria Police Force has fully keyed into the
change mantra of the Federal Government of Nigeria “Change Begins with
Me” and total war against corruption,” said CPS Moshood
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