Deplorable Criminal Justice: System Is Weak and Sick, Stop Blaming Police, It’s Our Collective Responsibility – IGP
By Raheem Ibrahim
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun has cautioned Nigerians against blaming the Force for deplorable criminal justice in the country, saying “the system is weak and sick”.
The IGP who made the caution at the 2024 Annual Lecture/Award Ceremony at Ikeja, Lagos implored Nigerians to join hands with the government to revive the system and stop blaming the Police.
The Police boss who was represented by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi emphasized the police is not the only pillar or stakeholder in the criminal justice system in this country.
He said, “We have challenges, we accept, but we will try our best to make sure we have a better system. Since 1966, people have been blaming government, one after the other for bad governance and corruption till today”.
“We should all come together to find lasting solution, instead of putting the blame on Police, which have been trying its best to combat the menace. All of us must come together to help perfect criminal justice or justice system administration in Nigeria”, he said.
According to him, “A woman whose son was murdered by cultists and the Police apprehended the culprits, came back later, knelling down for forgiveness because the accused persons are her relations. If the Police insisted on prosecuting them, the people who are to be witnesses are the ones begging now”.
“The government has make the ACJA 2015 and other laws but the problem we always face is that we always confuse ourselves and full of sentiment”, he added.
“Cyber crime is there since 2015. The provision is there that if you say certain things online is an offence. Nigerians must know that an offence has been committed.”
To buttress his point, he cited the recent pardon granted to suspects of the #EndBadGovernance by the FG, Adejobi urged lawyers to stop confusing Nigerians on the issue of the arrested minors, saying there is a difference between a protester and a criminal.
He stressed further, “The law of the land permit citizens to protest against government policy but protesters who attacked other people, snatched their personal belongings, set properties ablazed or killed person have turned to criminals and should be brought to book”.
“People should try to know the laws that govern them because it is in our law that anyone who is more than 7 year old can be charged to court and be prosecuted for committing crime. Thank God the President gave them pardon. We would have continue with the case”, he remarked.
