N50, 000 bribe: CP to study panel’s report, make findings public

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Edgar Imohimi, on Tuesday, received the final report from members of the panel that investigated petition of unethical conducts, collection of bribe and sexual harassment as alleged by a nongovernmental organisation, Network on Police Reforms in Nigeria (NOPRIN), against Anti-kidnapping and Anti-Cultism police personnel.  

Imohimi, who was elated over the quick conclusion of the panel, appreciated the members, promising to duly study the report and implement the recommendations. He also promised to make the findings and recommendation public.

This was also as he disclosed that he would make sure community policing and community safety partnership, which was recently inaugurated by the Inspector General of Police, becomes the bedrock of his command’s strategy.

The police boss also noted that the investigation, which was carried out by the panel, was meant to witch hunt any policeman.

His words: “The intention of investigating misconduct of officers is not to witch-hunt anybody. It’s to institutionalize the culture of respect for the right of citizens of Lagos State. It’s to ensure that we provide creditable service to the good people of Lagos State. Any conduct, that would discredit the Nigeria Police Force, would no longer be tolerated. It’s not going to be business as usual. Every complaint would be investigated and made public. If community policing must be successful, then unprofessional attitude of policemen would have to change, so that members of the public would trust and have confidence in us. If they have trust and confidence, information will start flowing.”

He further said: “I thank members of the panel and thank the members of their patience. We shall enforce the recommendations. We shall cleanse the system of bad eggs. Any act that would discredit police will not be supported. The truth is members of the public will not partner with us if we don’t regain their trust and their confidence. But I have told my officers and men that they cannot regain the trust and confidence and goodwill of the citizenry that they protect, if they don’t change some of the bad, unethical conducts they used to exhibit.”

Imohimi, who said that he had started noticing changes among some policemen since he started lecturing them on conduct, stressed that he wouldn’t stop frowning at unethical conducts by policemen. I have noticed marked improvement in the conducts of some policemen. The number of complaints coming on is on the decline. We will not stop talking; we’ll continue to talk. If we are to make sure that community policing, community safety partnership is successful as a new policing strategy for Lagos state, then the issue of police unprofessionalism must be checked.”