The Justice Watch Initiative (JWI) has described the inspector-general of police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun’s recent directives, particularly those addressing indiscriminate case transfers, misuse of police authority in civil matters, and frivolous petitions, as landmark decisions that will improve policing in Nigeria.
In a statement, the president of JWI, Ilechukwu Obiorah, commended the inspector-general of police for his bold and transformative reforms to improve transparency, accountability, and professionalism in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
He states, “The inspector-general of police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has once again demonstrated that he is not only a reform-minded leader but a determined and visionary police chief. His insistence on transparency, professionalism, and accountability as the pillars of policing in Nigeria is a strong statement that the Nigeria Police Force is undergoing genuine transformation. These new directives are far-reaching and timely, and we at Justice Watch Initiative (JWI) fully support his efforts to sanitise the system.
The JWI president lauded the IGP’s stance against the unwarranted transfer of case files, which he described as a practice that has hampered justice delivery and contributed to corruption within the Force.
“For too long, Nigerians have suffered from the endless shuffling of cases from one division to another, leading to undue delays, waste of resources, and outright frustration for victims. This unwholesome practice has also allowed some unscrupulous officers to exploit complainants financially. By ending this anomaly, the IGP has shown his deep understanding of the issues affecting policing and his commitment to solving them,” he said.
Obiorah also praised the IGP’s order barring officers from meddling in civil disputes, particularly matters of land ownership, which are often manipulated to serve vested interests.
He said, “For decades, Nigerians have watched in dismay as the police are wrongfully used to settle civil disputes. This has damaged the credibility of the Force and eroded public trust. By clarifying that the police should not intervene in purely civil matters except where there is a criminal element, the IGP has demonstrated leadership and integrity. His directive that State Commissioners of Police must take full responsibility for all investigations is a game-changer ensuring greater accountability.”
The JWI president further commended the IGP’s introduction of stricter regulations on petitions. These regulations now require complainants to declare the authenticity of their claims to curb the rising trend of false and malicious petitions.
Obiorah concluded by calling on civil society organisations, legal practitioners, the media and the general public to support the IGP’s transformation agenda, stressing that a reformed police force is critical to Nigeria’s progress and development.
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