Gbajabiamila seeks more reforms to check Police excesses

The Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has called for more reforms to tackle the excesses of the Nigeria Police Force.

He made the call on Wednesday, saying that the House would work with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and other stakeholders to expunge autocratic laws that allow the police to act with impunity and evade being punished.

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He said Nigerians have long expected the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to police itself.

He, however, noted that the call had been a wrong one as the police failed to adhere to it.

“For the benefit of a functioning system of policing in Nigeria, it is now necessary that parliament steps in to introduce an independent, fair and practical approach to ensure that those to whom we grant the authority to act in the name of the State are held to the highest standards of professional conduct.

“Over the next thirty days, the House of Representatives will work with the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), with civil society and with Nigerians of good conscience to draft new legislation that establishes a system of independent accountability,” he said.

He said that there was the need for more constitution amendment to get rid of obnoxious laws shielding the police from justice.

Gbajabiamila cited Section 215(5) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which states that: “The question whether any and if so what, directions have been given (to the Police) under this section shall not be inquired into in any court.”

He said, the provision is one of the obstacles to effective judicial review of policing in Nigeria.

“Therefore, any reforms of the operations of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) must include a constitutional amendment to expunge this painfully undemocratic clause from our country’s constitution,” he said.