…As PWAN trains journalists on Police Act 2020
By Adeyinka Adeniran
A lawyer, and Programme officer at the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research / Mac Arthur Foundation Projects on Corruption Control in Nigeria, Mr Tosin Osasona has called on the government to engage more lawyers into the Nigeria Police to aid speedy prosecution of cases.
He said the call is in line with the Police Act 2020 which prohibits police officers who are not lawyers from prosecuting cases in court.
Osasona spoke while fielding questions from journalists shortly after his presentation on The Police Act 2020/Regulation during a media townhall meeting on “Human Rights, The Police Act 2020 and Regulations”
The townhall facilitated by a woman-led, non-governmental organisation, The Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative also known as Partners West Africa Nigeria (PWAN) was organised to: “Enhance Police Governance: Deepening Understanding of The Police Act 2020 and Regulations Across Nigeria”.
The meeting had in attendance about 70 media practitioners from across the Southwest states of Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo and Lagos.
Osasona said “The new Police Act is clear that only police officers who are lawyers can prosecute case in court. So there is no ambiguity about that. So there is clarity about that.
“But the question is, what is functional? what is the practicability of that law? What is the practical sense of it? When you have, give or take, less than 500 police officers in the Nigerian police, and you have more than 1,500 police prosecutions, and police are more active in magistrate courts. So where are we going to get lawyers to prosecute? So what it means is that there is a need for resourcing.
“We have a law that we need to go further and do the things that will make the law work. The reason why the law wants us to have lawyers as police officers is because, lawyers, as prosecutors are officers of the court, and are more aware of their responsibility to justice. So they understand the intricacies of the justice system.
“So, it’s easier for them to protect rights than for an ordinary IPO. So it’s a good thing. But what is the functioning capability of it? Going forward, how do we address this? We need to advocate for an increase in the number of lawyers in the police.
“At least, we attach one lawyer to each division. It Is only government that employ police officers. So the government should take a lead. When you employ, you have to pay salaries, you have to consider promotions, position, pension, and all of that. So it’s only government that can do that.
“What it means is that the police resourcing needs to be considered. So that would, over the years, increase input, like intake into the police by lawyers. So even if you don’t employ all the lawyers at a time, like we need a work plan or a strategy for increasing police officers that are lawyers.”
He also said the issue of State Policing should be considered on the basis of problems to be solved including efficiency and accountability rather than on control.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Executive Director, PWAN, Ms ‘Kemi Okenyodo said the organisation is dedicated to enhancing citizens’ participation and improving security governance in Nigeria and West Africa broadly, achieved through the rule of law, citizens security, and CSO strengthening program areas.
Speaking through the PWAN Communications Officer, Mrs Ogechukwu Mohanye, the ED said the meeting was organised to educate the public and specifically the media organizations about the Police Act 2020, its impact on police-citizen interactions, and media reporting.
Ms. Okenyodo said “With support from the UK Integrated Security Fund of the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) is implementing the project titled “Enhancing Police Governance: Deepening Understanding of the Police Act 2020 and Regulations Across Nigeria specifically in Kano, Plateau, Borno, Edo, Lagos, Enugu states, and the FCT.
“The project seeks to address critical gaps in the understanding and application of the Police Act 2020 and accompanying regulations within the Nigerian Police Force (NPF).
“This is an important initiative to ensure that both the public and the media understand their rights and responsibilities under the new law and the expected conduct of police officers.
“This meeting is an essential step to strengthening trust, transparency, and accountability between law enforcement and the community. Today’s townhall meeting serves as an opportunity for us to: Unpack the critical provisions of the Police Act 2020 and its innovations, Explore the role of the media in fostering responsible and rights-based reporting on sensitive issues like arrests, stop-and-search, and profiling as well as discuss actionable strategies to bridge gaps in understanding and implementation of the Act across Nigeria.”
Highpoint of the meeting was a panel session where media experts exchanged ideas on how to hold the police accountable while also not victimising or limiting their powers in the discharge of their duties.
