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Folake Sokoya
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Edgal, Imohinmi has appointed SP Abubakar Aliyu of the X-Squad section to represent him as member of Stakeholders on Police Accountability.
Imohinmi made the announcement on Wednesday,August 15,2018 during the official launch of Stakeholders Forum on Police Accountability at the Conference Hall of the Lagos State Police Command with a promise to monitor the activities of the forum.
While commending the stakeholders forum organised by the civil society groups, Imohinmi said it would also assist the police to perform better especially when community policing in the state has reduced crimes by 35 per cent.
He pointed out that 108 officers were disciplined for various offences from January to July, 2018 in the State Command. He stated further that eight officers were dismissed over what he termed very serious criminal offences.
“6 others were demoted in ranks, 58 other officers recorded major entries, 6 officers reprimanded, 28 officers were warned, 4 officers had extra fatigue, while 5 others were discharged for lack of evidences against them.” He announced.
According to him, the days of police officers receiving slaps on the wrist for offences are gone. “When you performed excellently well, you will receive a CP’s Commendation Letter. I am not happy punishing any officer, but that does not mean we should overlook unprofessional conducts.
“When I resumed as CP Lagos, I discovered that the public had lost confidence in the police so I set up a Citizen Complaint Hot Centre with ten mobile phone lines through which people can complain about the wrongs of our men. I have received many complaints. He added further.
The CP in conclusion called on Lagosians to continue to assist the police with information and all that is in their power for a better Lagos.
Network For Police Reform In Nigeria (NOPRIN) Coordinator and Chairman of the forum, Comrade Nwagunma Okechukwu in his speech said that the forum was formed with a view to have regular engagement and interaction with the Lagos State Police Command on issues of police accountability.
“The platform is to stand as a liaison between the police and the communities. This is with a view to deepening partnership between the police and the communities they serve and to improve public safety and security.
“We want to gain deeper understanding of the workings of the various complaints and disciplinary mechanisms within the Lagos State Police Command and the feedback system.
“We want to have a formalised and structured engagement with them, contribute to strengthening and promoting police accountability,” he stated.
Nwanguma commended Edgal for his human rights record, noting that he was one of the best in the country with a good human rights police command.
One of the stakeholders present, Mrs. Anigbo Nneka, the Head of Monitoring, National Human Rights Commission, South-West, also commended the police chief and said that the launch of the forum was a welcome development adding that the commission would support the forum to succeed.
Mrs Bose Iro Ndu of Women’s Rights and Health Project also presented some advocacy materials to the Commissioner Of Police.
