The Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Dr. Solomon Arase, has promised to look into the status of qualified lawyers serving in the Nigeria Police Force and appearing in Courts with the ranks of Corporals, Sergeants and Inspectors. He also said the cases of other junior Police Officers who acquired additional certificates in other disciplines while in service will also receive the attention of the Commission.
Dr. Arase who is also a former Inspector General of Nigeria Police Force made this known today in a statement signed by Ikechukwu Ani,
Head, Press and Public Relations of the Commission.
The PSC Chairman noted that this will give the officers the required self confidence to perform better.
He spoke in Abuja when he received in audience the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association Abuja branch (Unity Bar) led by
Barrister Afam Okeke Chairman of the Association.
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Barrister Okeke had complained that Lawyers who came into the Police as Junior Officers but improved their qualifications are currently appearing and defending cases in courts for the Nigeria Police Force but still wearing junior ranks.
The PSC Chairman told the delegation that the Commission may decide to send these categories of Police Lawyers and other junior Police Officers with additional qualifications on a short service training after which they would be properly placed as Officers.
He said the Nigeria Police needs the services of more Lawyers stressing that the Commission will come out with a decision that will leave all parties in a win-win situation.
Dr. Arase used the opportunity to call on the Nigerian Bar Association to advise practising Lawyers to stop criminalising civil matters. “It is wrong and should be discouraged, civil matters should be treated as civil matters and arbitration should serve the parties and the society better” he noted.
“We should avoid time wasting in criminalising civil matters and sending them to the Police when it can be better handled outside of the Police” Dr. Arase stressed.
The PSC Chairman who called for a robust legal system in Nigeria that inspires the citizens to seek for redress and justice also noted that offenders must be arrested and prosecuted to restore confidence in the system.
He however informed his visitors that the Commission is setting up a Compliance Monitoring Unit to ensure the Police Complaints Response Units promptly attends to public complaints.
According to him, this new Unit will be directly under his supervision for effectiveness and efficiency. The Commission will henceforth ensure that it prevents a system that does not attend to public complaints.
Dr. Arase also spoke of the Commission’s desire to collaborate with the Nigeria Bar Association and organise some training programmes on human rights so as to expose its staff Lawyers to a better appreciation of its duties.
He promised the participation of the Commission and its Staff Lawyers in the Law Week of the Abuja branch and the National body’s convention in Abuja.
Bar. Okeke, the Chairman of the Unity Bar had earlier congratulated the PSC Chairman on his appointment and pledged the Union’s support.
By Ajibola Adedoye