The Nigeria Police Force has warned that officers who demand money for bail will face disciplinary action, while members of the public who pay for bail risks arrest and prosecution.
SP Awu Fidelis, the Head of the Complaints Response Unit (CRU), Force Headquarters, Abuja, gave the warning during a sensitisation rally in Lagos on Friday.
The rally was organised by the CRU in partnership with the Eagle Crime Awareness and Prevention Initiative (ECAPI).
Fidelis said the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Olatunji Disu, had repeatedly emphasised that bail was free and that no money should be demanded or paid for the release of arrested persons.
He urged residents to report officers who demanded money for bail, stressing that both the giver and receiver would be arrested and prosecuted.
According to Fidelis, the partnership between the police and ECAPI is an important initiative towards rebuilding public trust, strengthening accountability and improving police-public relations.
He said complaints against police personnel were investigated and appropriate disciplinary measures taken against officers found culpable.
“The increasing number of people reporting misconduct through the CRU’s offices and communication channels indicated the growing public confidence in the complaint-handling process, ” he said.
He said members of the public could report police misconduct through the CRU’s telephone lines, 08057000001 and 08057000002, for calls, 08057000003 for WhatsApp complaints, as well as its social media platforms.
Also speaking, the Officer-in-Charge of the CRU, Lagos State Command, DSP Idris Mogaji said the unit had recorded successes in addressing complaints against police officers through prompt investigations and disciplinary measures.
“We keep the complainants informed about the progress and outcomes of investigations, including disciplinary decisions taken against officers found culpable,”he said.
He said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Fatai Tijani, had convened a meeting with officers to address concerns, including personnel using unregistered vehicles, particularly buses,
“The command has taken steps to ensure compliance with the directive and had acted on a recent incident involving some police officers,” he said.
He urged residents to report unprofessional conduct through 09111111151, 09111111150, the command’s social media platforms or written petitions to the CP, reaffirming the command’s commitment to accountability.
The founder of ECAPI, Amb. Samuel Eniola said the organisation would extend its campaign on police accountability and crime prevention to communities, markets, motor parks and police formations across Lagos State.
Eniola said the campaign aimed to educate residents, particularly youths, on the functions of the CRU and how to report police misconduct.
He said the exercise would cover local government areas, communities, police stations, barracks, area commands, transport unions and other associations across the state.
According to him, .the campaign will also target police personnel to help improve their understanding of the CRU and its role in receiving and addressing complaints against officers.
Eniola said the ECAPI had begun engaging local governments and had received encouraging responses, adding that the outreach would continue across the state.
He identified the youths as key target, noting that sustained sensitisation was necessary to educate them on criminal behaviour and its consequences.
The ECAPI founder said community-based engagements would help reach young people who might not regularly access to information through television, radio or newspapers.
He added that the initiative’s mandate extended beyond advocacy against police brutality. It also include crime prevention, responsible behaviour and cooperation with law enforcement agencies to build a safer society and strengthen police-public relations.
In his remarks, Tijani, represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Administration, Mr Anthony Placid, expressed the command’s support for the partnership.
He commended the leaderships of the CRU and the ECAPI, describing the collaboration between the police and advocacy organisations as timely and important for strengthening public trust.
Tijani said such cooperation could improve information sharing, promote accountability and enhance security at the community level.
The sensitisation campaign featured roadshows, market outreach, distribution of information materials and demonstrations of the CRU’s complaint-reporting platforms.