By Sunday Apah
Comrade (Dr) Kehinde Prince Taiga, the National President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), has raised alarms regarding the backgrounds of individuals being assigned police escorts.
He has called on Inspector General of Police (IGP) Olukayode Egbetokun to initiate a thorough vetting process for anyone granted police protection.
In light of recent incidents where individuals with known criminal histories have been spotted accompanied by police escorts, Taiga emphasized the need for a reassessment of this practice to ensure it aligns with the values of a reputable society.
He pointed out that it is unreasonable for a nation struggling with a shortage of security personnel to allocate police escorts to less significant individuals.
Taiga argued that halting this inappropriate allocation would be beneficial for the public, who are increasingly vulnerable in today’s environment.
In a statement released to the press in Warri, Taiga expressed dismay that notorious figures such as scammers, money launderers, and land encroachers are seen displaying police escorts, sometimes even using them to intimidate those with whom they have disputes, whether in police stations or courts.
“Our recent survey of individuals with police escorts revealed that many have acquired their wealth through dubious means,” Taiga noted.
“These individuals leverage their ill-gotten gains to secure police protection, enabling them to commit further offenses and exert pressure on those they consider adversaries.”
Taiga urged IGP Egbetokun to promptly begin profiling individuals currently assigned police escorts to remove protections from those who do not warrant them, for the greater good of society.
“We cannot lament the lack of adequate security personnel to address rampant crime while simultaneously assigning these valuable resources to individuals who do not deserve them, leaving the general populace vulnerable,” he stated.
The CDHR also criticized the police and judiciary for favoring wealth over justice in both criminal and civil cases. They highlighted a disturbing trend where law enforcement and judicial officials often favor the affluent, even in instances where they are the alleged offenders.
“We have observed how this damaging trend allows the police and the judiciary to favor the wealthy at the expense of the poor, even when guilt has been established,” Taiga asserted. “We say enough is enough when it comes to this miscarriage of justice.”
Taiga called upon the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to implement necessary reforms in the judicial system to eliminate corruption and ensure justice is served fairly, restoring trust among citizens.
As the holiday season approaches, the CDHR also appealed to IGP Egbetokun to issue a directive against professional misconduct among police officers, especially during this time when they might resort to unethical practices in pursuit of quick financial gains for holiday celebrations.
Taiga emphasized that a plea for integrity from law enforcement during the festive season is essential, as the public typically bears the brunt of any misconduct. He warned that exploiting desperation in the current challenging economic climate could lead to further issues down the line.
