Police investigations are now for sale in Nigeria--Investigation

By

Emeka Ibemere

He wasn’t a police officer, but he always put a defence for Nigeria Police Force, each time the Force came under attack for not discharging their duties professionally.

Okoh Agaracha, 54 (not his real name), had a strong religious belief in the police throughout his growing days in Lagos State. He has faith in the Force and always argues in their favour. 

But recently, he rescinds his faith in the police when he lost his new CUV car to robbers at Oke-Afa Bridge on Isolo-Ikotun Road, one Saturday morning.

Agaracha was on his way to butcher’s market on top of the dump site near the bridge to buy meat for his brother in-law who was to wed that Saturday.

He was attacked and his car was taken away. Agaracha reported the case to Isolo Police Station and was asked to report the next day, after police had taken his statement.

On the appointed day, with hope that the police he trust so much would help him out, Agaracha breezed into the station but he was asked to deposit some money for ‘investigation.’ For an anxious man who is in dire need of his property, he complied. He got another appointment for another day and was asked to repeat his visit which he did and again, he was asked to ‘drop something’ for phone calls.

Aside, he was also asked to pay for mobilization fee to enable the investigation officers able to move about. Worst, he was told that there were indications that the vehicle was located at Ogun State and this required money.

 For more than three months, Agaracha was visiting the police station on invitation and at times, he would be called on phone that the vehicle was located in so and so states and money was need to storm the state.

He would ‘drop’ as usual and the investigation continues. Five months down the investigation, the man who lost his car has committed close to quarter of the money used in buying the stolen vehicle yet the car were no where the stratosphere. 

Irked by the fleecing strategy of the police investigators in a car snatching case, Agaracha withdrew the case and told the police that he was tired and that he had handed over the stolen car to God.

He told the police to forget the case and that they shouldn’t call him on it again. By the time, Agaracha bounced out of the case, he had been skinned a whopping sum of money yet the investigation is still ongoing while the car is yet to be found. The case closed and car disappeared.

 Agaracha said since then, he knew that police investigation wasn’t for free and that it’s costly for an average person to indulge in a wild-goose chase - game of the police investigation. Meanwhile, its  common to read daily, the DAILY PRESS BULLETIN of the Nigeria Police Force on the activities of the each command in the pursuant to their duties in maintaining order, peace and justice in their areas of command and influence. Such bulletins as- “FATAL MOTOR ACCIDENT: - On 8/6/2014 at about 0700hrs, at Cele Bus Stop along Oshodi Apapa Expressway Itire, a Daewoo Nubira S/Car with Reg. No. KJA 971 CW driven by one Anaeto Ikechukwu Samson ‘m’ of No.20 Alahum Ozumba Street, Maza-Maza hit one female pedestrian whose identity is yet unknown. The victim died on the spot and corpse has been deposited at Mainland General Hospital mortuary for autopsy. The case is under investigation at Itire Division”.

 Others also read as follows: “SUDDEN AND UNNATURAL DEATH: - On 6/6/2014 at about 1105hrs one Adaobi Okafor ‘f’ (Aka Chichi) was found dead in her hotel room at Onyebuchi Hotel located at No.198, Ipaja Road. The corpse has been removed to LASUTH General Hospital mortuary for autopsy. The case is under investigation at Elere Division”. You could as well see more in this format, “LONE FATAL MOTOR ACCIDENT: - On 8/6/2014 at about 2130hours at Pako Bus Stop along Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway a Volkswagen Commercial Bus with Reg. No. AAA 860 XH driven by a yet to be identified person had a lone accident. An unidentified female occupant fell from the vehicle and died. The vehicle has been recovered to Gowon Estate Police Division while the corpse has been deposited at Mainland General Hospital mortuary Yaba for autopsy. Case is under investigation at Gowon Estate Division”.

The Press releases usually and duly signed by the Police Spokespersons, had the imprint of the Commissioner of police of such State Commands. In most cases the common thing is that when there are serious issues in the state, and then the Commissioner himself would avail himself the opportunity to address the press.

But when it comes on the slight cases, the Police Public Relations’ Officers dished out their daily bulletin which always contain the phrase, ‘the case is now under investigation at so and so Division’.

But are the cases actually investigated or just a police mantra to fulfil the proverbial ‘righteousness.’? Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the cases end immediately the Police Daily Press Bulletin was dished out to the press to look as if the police was still ‘on top of the matter’, more so when the victims are not willing to dole out money.

Those whose cases have been investigated are the ones with resource to follow their cases. A police source said, even in a case of missing persons, or death and accidents that police still requires and asked for money to go for the investigation. He stated that investigations of cases are not free and cheap.

Prof Etanbi et al of CLEEN Foundation, Lagos in their Analysis of Police and Policing in Nigeria, maintained that policing has always been necessary in all societies for the preservation of order, safety and social relations. Thus the primary role of the police remains that of securing compliance with existing laws and conformity with precepts of social order.

It would be recalled that the Force Criminal Investigation Department is the highest investigative arm of the Nigeria Police Force. Its functions among others include investigation and prosecution of serious and complex criminal cases within and outside the country.

The Department has the following Sections Administration, Anti-Fraud Section and Central Criminal Registry. Others are Special Anti Robbery Squad, Interpol Section, ‘X’ Squad Section, General Investigation Section and Special Fraud Unit. Also in the department includes, Homicide Section, Forensic Science Laboratory, Anti-Human trafficking Unit, Legal Section, Force CID Annex Lagos and Force CID Annex Kaduna.

Ngozi Braide, DSP and the Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, Ikeja when contacted on her phone on the issue refused to pick her calls.

The Nigeria Police Force is still largely accused of being uneducated, still poorly trained, extremely corrupt and still serves parochial political interests.

Recently, reports say a particular Police officer of the Nigeria Police Force demanded N150, 000 bribe in order to properly investigate a fraud. The report also revealed that officers employed force to extort money from crimes victims who approach them for help.

Investigations gathered that the police always demand mobilization fee, transportation fee, writing utensils fee, documentation and files keeping fee, money for the ‘oga at the top’ fee, money for my team’s fee, appreciation fee, good-fate fee and other terms coined to justify what appear as demand for bribe.