Another batch of 178 officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) graduated after three months training in human rights bringing to 18,600 the number of those trained so far in human rights across the country, ADEBISI ONANUGAreports
About 178 men and officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) from the rank of Superintendent to constable graduated in human rights training and have become human rights officers and face of the force.
The graduation ceremony was held last Thursday at the Officers Mess, GRA, Ikeja.
The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Zone 2, Ahmed Iliyasu, in his address at the ceremony, urged men and officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to work and discharge their duties within the tenets of the rule of law.
He said: The fact we are Police Officers does not give us the power to dehumanise any member of the public”.
AIG Iliyasu stated this at the 38th Graduation Ceremony of Human Rights Officers trained by Lagos State Police Command in collaboration with Crime Victims Foundation of Nigeria (CRIVIFON).
The AIG was represented at the event by a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Umar Shelleng, the DC Zone 2 CID.
AIG Iliyasu urged them to treat all cases brought before them equally and on their merit.
“ Let us continue to do our duty diligently and ensure we work within the tenets of the law.
“When you get back to your stations, teach your colleagues what you have been taught here so that they would also imbibe the spirit of human rights”, he said.
AIG Iliyasu praised CRIVIFON for its effort to change the face and perception of the Police in the minds of the public.
“I commend you and your organisation because you have been doing very well in terms of capacity building for the Police. You will all agree with me that they have succeeded in turning you to human rights expert”, he said.
Former Force Public Relations Officer (PRO), CP Frank Odita (rtd.) lectured the officers on how they would deploy public relations to assist in intelligence work.
CP Odita told them that it is not the PRO that is the face of the Police but men and officers of the force on the field who are the first contact with the public.
“It is not the PRO at the headquarters that is the PRO but you on the ground whose conduct would make people determine whether the Police is good or bad or can be trusted”.
“ You must have human rightss spirit. That is why we fought to have human rights desk established at all Police Stations. Lack of trust between Police and the public destroys relationship “, he further stated.
Going biblical, Odita advised that they should show love to people who come before them.
“ A Police officer is a peacemaker. By duty and training, he is a child of God. Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God”, he said.
He urged them to replicate that biblical injunction in their work and relationship with the public.
He advised them to stop extorting members of the public so that they don’t collect money that have been cursed.
“Be outstanding in whatever you do. Do what is right always and your reward will be given to you by God”, he admonished them.
The Executive Director, CRIVIFON, Mrs Gloria Egbuji at the occasion, said that about 18,600 men and officers have been trained so far across the country since the training began.
Egbuji said the training content are very enriching ranging from Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, with thorough explanation of Section 33 to 45, particularly areas that concern the Police.
She listed other areas covered by the training programme, in respect of which there is public outcry, to include issues of bail, right to silence, right to fair hearing, permissible use of fire arms limit of Police powers, child rights, domestic violence law, ADR mechanism, humanitarian laws, interrogation among others.
“ Our objective is to change the narrative and have friendly Police Officers who respect peoples’ human rights, improve the image of the Police in order for the public to be closer to them, share intelligence and assist them to make their work easier”, she said, adding, ’’ even the most sophisticated police in the world needs information to make the best of policing and provide safer cities and higher quality of life where fear of crime is non-existent”.
Egbuji said the training is also to make Police, who are law enforcers, not to be law breakers and help them carry out diligent investigation and interrogation without torture.
She said it was also to make the work of community policing a lot easier and attract more support from the people and who in turn will assist them in their needs.
The CRIVIFON Executive Director encouraged the public to demand for their rights from the Police whenever they visit the Police stations.
She urged to desist from rushing to pay for bail but instead, to provide police with reliable sureties.
The South West Coordinator, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Lucas Koyejo, who delivered a paper on Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), reminded them that as Police Officers, they should not be seen to be violating human rights but to be protecting such rights.
Koyejo said human rights is applicable to both the police and the public, adding that this is why men and officers of the NPF are required to know much about the law because they play an important role in criminal justice administration.
He said the law made provisions which Police must adhere to when making arrest or detaining a person.
He cautioned them against making arrest by proxy.
“It is unlawful to arrest the father, brother or wife in lieu of the suspect.
“ Don’t use handcuff on a person who has submitted himself for arrest.
“When you must arrest a person, you must tell him why he is being arrested. It is his right to know that.
“A suspect has a right to remain silent until he sees his lawyer or has a legal representation.
“ There is no statute of limitation for crimes as a person who commits a crime can still be arrested years after the commission of the crime and be prosecuted “, he stated.
The state Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu who was represented by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Operations, A.A. Mohammed, regretted bad publicity about the NPF.
He urged the human rights graduands to be prepared to change the narrative and give the force a new image.
The Director, Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) who was represented by Akin George, urged the graduands to rise above board and change the image of the force, adding that this way, they would get all necessary support from different quarters.
George, who noted that crime is rising and gone hi-tech, also urged them to up the game, adding “ when you do clean investigation, you make the work of the DPP easy, the trial is easier and we get more convictions’.
He remarked that the Police has the responsibility of enforcing the law to reduce crime in the society.
He, however, advised them to ensure that they do not breach the right of any person while enforcing the law.
The Class Governor, Human Rights Course 38/2020, Supol Ishola Oluboye, said the course has given them more insight into their profession and helped in identifying their limitations when carrying out their lawful duties as stated in the Police Act and Regulations 1999 and other law books.
“Human rights are the rights given to all people by virtue of being human beings. It is inborn and inherent. It is enshrined in Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international statutes: the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which talked about the fundamental right of the people of Nigeria”, he noted.
