Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, said it will take action over the alleged extortion of citizens by some police personnel in Enugu State.
NBA made the vow on Tuesday in Enugu during the opening of the NBA Enugu Branch 2024 Law Week.
The move followed a lecture delivered by a human rights lawyer, Mr Daniel Ogbe, entitled, “Commercialisation of Policing in Enugu State: Implications on Human Rights”.
Chairman of NBA, Enugu Branch, Chief Venatus Odo, noted that the extortion takes place in their various offices when residents seek their services.
Odo said the negative actions of some police officers should be checked and the fundamental rights of residents restored.
The chairman also said that the development infringed on the activities of lawyers and the general judicial process in the state.
“We are going to seek an official audience with the police authority and its hierarchy within the state on this negative development, even as we are going to submit our communiqué to them”, he said.
The chairman lamented the high charges by police personnel when matters are reported to their offices.
Ógbè, in his presentation, said the commercialisation of policing in Enugu State had led to infringement on fundamental human rights of residents, who at times pay exorbitantly to get police services.
“The commercialisation of the Nigeria Police Force in Enugu State represents a significant threat to societal stability and poses a detrimental impact on the welfare of the police themselves.
“It is imperative that legal professionals collaborate to initiate public interest suits.
“These suits should aim to persuade the judiciary, through compelling legal arguments, to adopt a proactive stance in interpreting pertinent laws.
“This approach should ensure that police officers are neither permitted nor incentivised to act as agents of injustice and regression within the Criminal Justice System.
“Such actions have negative implications for the protection of fundamental rights of citizens in Enugu State”, he said.
Ogbe noted that notwithstanding the difficulties and inadequacies in police operations, the police should work with dedication and commitment to serve the public.
Reacting, another legal luminary, Chief Uche Maduemesi, noted that the cost of getting the police to make an arrest had become exorbitant.
Maduemesi said police officers do not consider that ordinary citizens might not access protection and emergency response services due to excessive charges before service.
“There is the need to have a change and for Nigerians to easily access the services of the police to ensure that people get the needed help during distress”, he said.
Earlier, Justice of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, Peter Obiora, in a keynote paper on the theme: “Bar Practice: The Lawyer at the Centre of Judicial Corruption – Nagging Need for Practice Reforms”, noted that lawyers must be upright.
Obiora, represented by Justice Harold Eya of Enugu State High Court, explained that there are two types of lawyers namely “those who know the law and those who know the judge”.
“Truth and transparency is the hallmark of justice anywhere you take it to”, he said.
He called on lawyers to desist from encouraging bribery and corruption in the judicial system, adding that lawyers should shun double standards and maintain the rule of law and truth.
Speaking, the Chief Judge of Ebonyi State, Justice Elvis Ngene, lauded NBA, Enugu Branch for organising the week and standing out among other bar associations in the country.
“I have been enriched today by this lecture by Justice Obiora and I am leaving here happy and fulfilled. This shows that there is still hope for reforms in the judicial system in the country”, Ngene said.
In his remarks, the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Raymond Ozoemena, lauded the NBA for upholding the tenets of the legal profession and having mentoring initiatives for young lawyers.
“I want to commend NBA, Enugu Branch for setting the pace and being outstanding in all it set out to achieve within the state and nationally”, Ozoemena said. NAN
