I am delighted and indeed privileged to make the
presentation of the Nigeria Police Force Order 20 as amended otherwise known as
the Police Duty Solicitors’ Scheme (PDSS) to the public.
The Police Duty Solicitors’ Scheme is yet
another milestone of this Police Administration’s efforts to ensure an
efficient Criminal Justice Sector but this time with emphasis on the rights of persons
arrested and detained by the Police to easily access legal representation.
On my assumption of office as the
Inspector-General of Police, I stated in very clear terms, that this
Police administration under my
leadership will operate within the mantra of the rule of law and respect the
rights of all Nigerians, irrespective of religion, ethnic, social or political
inclinations while performing our constitutional duties of protecting lives and property. This informed my decision
to lunch the Nigeria Police Force creed “titled “OUR CREED”.
The creed is as
follows;
·
We shall Police the
country based on international core values of Policing with integrity.
·
We shall ensure
that rule of law prevails in our action and activities
·
We shall respect
diversity, display courage, show compassion and demonstrate professionalism
·
We shall operate within
the principles of Democratic Policing.
·
We shall shun
corruption.
·
We shall make
Nigeria safer and secured
The launching
today of the Police Duty Solicitor Scheme is a manifestation of my commitment
to deliver on my promise to the government and good people of Nigeria to
operate within the mantra of the rule of law. The Police Duty Solicitors’
Scheme (PDSS) is a tripartite scheme comprising of the Nigeria Police, the
Legal Aid Council of Nigeria and the Open Society Justice Initiative. This
synergy is not just a partnership but collaboration designed to promote and
protect the human rights of citizens.
The
scheme will guarantee lawyers engaged by the Legal Aid Councilaccess to persons
arrested and detained in the Police Stations across the country to offer them free
legal representation. This will reduce, if not eliminate the usual allegation of
prolonged detentions, torture and extortion at Police formations across the
country. The legality of the Scheme is derived from Section 36(5) of the Constitution
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.
Both the
Force and the general public stand to benefit from this Scheme. The Police who
are often accused of torture and inhuman treatment at police stations will now have
an independent person not only to act as a check to their excesses but they
could be vital witnesses to the officers when accused wrongly. On the other hand, the public, mainly the
poor and the vulnerable arrested by the Police for being in conflict with the
law will not only have the services of a counsel free of charge to ensure the
protection of their rights but at no cost.
Let me
state without fear of contradiction that this current Police Management has a
zero tolerance on violation of the rights of citizens and corruption. There
will be no hiding place for officers whose conducts run foul with the law. You
must learn to be professional in the discharge of your duties and shun all
forms of misconducts. Equally, I wish to assure you that this Administration
rewards honesty and hard work. Any good work of yours will not go unnoticed and
unrewarded.
For our
partners, the Legal Aid council and the Open Society Initiative, I commend your
efforts in the realisation of this laudable step in the Criminal Justice
Sector. You are however advised to ensure that the scheme is not seen as a
usurpation of Police functions but simply to have easy access to detainees in
the Police formations to protect their rights as guaranteed in the
Constitution.
Let
me use this opportunity to express my appreciation to His Excellency, President
Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, for providing an enabling environment for the Police to
perform its constitutional functions. I am indeed very grateful to His
Excellency for this support.
Finally
it is my honour and privilege to present to you Force Order 20 (PDSS) as
amended and I encourage Police officers in all Police formations to allow
Lawyers under the scheme have access to detainees.
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