The Nigerian Police Force has defended its right and power to initiate any approach to curb crimes and criminality in Nigeria, including the recently introduced Compulsory Motor Vehicle Registration and Identification Scheme (CMRIS) certificate.
This comes in response to the Nigerian Bar Association’s Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) issuing a seven-day ultimatum to the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, to stop the directive requiring vehicle owners to register and obtain a CMRIS certificate for a fee of not less than N6,000.
In a statement released on Sunday, the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, faulted NBA-SPIDEL’s report, stating that no agency can challenge the police’s initiative. Adejobi emphasized that the police have been issuing CMR for decades and that it is not a new strategy or document.
“This is unfounded, fake, and misleading. The NBA as a body will react to this. Stop spreading fake news. Who are those who made the statement or declaration, and in what capacity?” Adejobi questioned, challenging the NBA-SPIDEL to share their press statement with him for further discussion.
The FPRO urged the public to investigate the matter, asserting that the police have the right and powers to initiate any approach to curb crimes and criminality in Nigeria, as is applicable in other climes. He added that no agency can take the police up on this initiative and that they will rather key into it, harmonizing the system for the good of the country and its citizenry.
NBA-SPIDEL had earlier questioned the legal basis for the Nigeria Police Force’s issuance of the CMRIS certificates, arguing that no law had granted the police the authority to issue such licences or certificates to vehicle owners following vehicle registration at the appropriate offices and the that case is before court.
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