Human Rights activist, Femi
Falana (SAN), on Thursday called for adequate funding of the police.
Falana stated that it would be
difficult for police operatives to uphold rule of law without funds.
Falana made the call at a
training organised by the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) and
the Lagos State Police Command for senior cops.
“There is a need to sit with the
Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) for sufficient money to be availed the
police for diligent investigation. Close Circuit Television Cameras (CCTVs) are
to be installed in all police stations.
“Police stations are supposed to
be given running grants but it is not so. They are made to depend on the public
to assist. This is why sometimes, it is about who pays the piper. It is not
their fault but the fault of the society.
“This is why I advise people
clamouring for state police that certain things must be put in place first. Is
it a state that cannot pay salary that will arm its police?
“There are equipment the police
can use to check if weapons are kept somewhere. This can be done through a
radar. The same equipment can be used to scan vehicles even from a distance to
a checkpoint and so, the police do not have to stop and start checking items.
“All these come at a cost and
this is why the police must be properly funded to perform their duty. Policemen
do not have to stay on the road to monitor traffic offenders.
“There are supposed to be cameras
monitored from a control room. The police do not have to be on the road arguing
with offenders. Anyone who commits traffic offence, should simply be posted his
ticket at his residence.
“We need to let the government
know that you cannot police the road without gadgets. You cannot deal with
suspects without equipment. You have to be very careful and be ahead of your
suspects.
“The key to the success of the
police is for government to fund them adequately. When I was in Guinea Bissau,
I noticed Nigeria Police men on Peacekeeping mission there performed very well.
This is because they were well kitted and funded.”
Falana condemned the government
for sending security operatives to fight terrorists with inadequate weapons.
He also said it was the
responsibility of the police to contact families of arrested suspects to notify
them that their relatives were being detained.
According to Falana, such calls
should be at the expense of the police, hence, another reason the agency need
more funds.
He advocated for conjugal visits
and access to telephone calls for inmates, noting that visit by spouses would
check issues of homosexuality, lesbianism.
Falana said government was lucky
because most Nigerians didn’t not know their rights.
“You can sue the government for
failing to protect your relative especially if he’s a bread winner who died
during a crisis,” he added.
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