‘Don’t make dismissal of policemen discriminatory’

Posted by admin Latest Politics, Nigerian Police Saturday, August 10th, 2013

The Network of Police Reform in Nigeria has urged the Nigeria Police to ensure that the dismissal meted out to a police sergeant, Chris Omeleze, becomes a disciplinary pattern to check the excesses of its officers.

The dismissed officer, attached to the State Traffic Division, Ikeja, was captured on video demanding a N25,000 bribe from a motorist.

NOPRIN’s programme officer, Mr. Okechukwu Nwanguma, told our correspondent on Friday that the decision the Nigeria Police took to punish the offending sergeant was welcome.

He said the group would want officers at the higher and lower levels of the police punished for any untoward act.

Nwanguma said, “NOPRIN welcomes the dismissal of the sergeant who was captured on tape for demanding a N25, 000 bribe from a motorist. However, we expect that this imposition of disciplinary action on any erring police officer becomes a pattern touching on officers at all levels, not only junior officers.”

Noting that the culture of abuse of power and corruption cuts across all levels in the police, he added that the frequent abuse of power at the higher levels made changes difficult at the lower levels.

“If abuse and corruption are not tackled across all levels, they will be difficult to deal with and the dismissed officer will only end up as a sacrificial lamb,” he added.

Besides, Nwanguma said it was crucial to punish errant officers in order to check impunity.

He stated, “It is essential that police officers who are responsible for corruption and abuse of power are brought to account in order

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