Corruption in the Police is unprofessional and unethical– Lagos CP

Abiodun OBA

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Zubairu Muazu, has described corruption in the force as unprofessional and unethical warning that any anyone caught would be decisively dealt with.

Muazu gave the warning on Tuesday during the inauguration of a statement-taking room for the CID Panti, Yaba.

“I advise that we stay far away from corruption. It gives us bad name as it is unprofessional and unethical

He further cautioned them against collecting money for bail and described policemen collecting money for bail as kidnappers and would not be spared.

“We have always said bail is free and we mean it. I keep saying that any policeman who collects money for bail is not different from a kidnapper. The only difference is that everyone knows where you kept the suspects.

“The country is hard and we need the people more than they need us. Let us stay far from corruption,” he said.

Muazu commended the provider of the facility for the initiative, noting that statement-taking was important in police investigation.

The commissioner said that statement-taking was the foundation of police investigation.

He said the facility was important to police operations, assuring the British Council that it would be put to effective use.

Muazu commended DCP Yetunde Longe in charge of the CID for diligence.

He assured members of the public that the facility would be utilised effectively.

DCP Longe in her comment assured that the CID was prepared to embrace world best practices in investigation.

She commended ROLAC for donating equipment and training officers attached to the department.

“This will in no small measure add value to our productivity. I want to assure the CP, the donor and other stakeholders that this facility will be judiciously utilised for the intended purpose.

“The vision and mission of the I-G, Mohammed Adamu, to ensure diligent investigations is a task that must be accomplished,” she said.

Mrs Ajibola Ijimakinwa, the Lagos State Programme Coordinator of RoLAC, said that the programme was aimed at enhancing good governance, curbing corruption and ensuring that police cases would have successful prosecution.

“This is why we work and partner with the police to ensure critical laws are adhered to.

“We are looking at setting up more statement-taking rooms in Lagos as we look forward to the effective use of the facility,” she said.

The Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs Titilayo Shitta-Bay, expressed delight at the inauguration, noting that the facility was important to police investigations.

According to her, there had been issues with the manner in which statements were being taken from suspects.

She noted that the Administration of Criminal Justice Laws, 2015, mandated recording of statements.

The three-room facility with investigating/statement taking rooms and a monitoring centre where police officers investigating cases are monitored was provided by Rule of Law and Anti-corruption (RoLAC) Programme managed by the British Council and funded by European Union.