The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, psc(+), NPM, NEAPS, fdc, CFR, has directed a streamlining of all police investigative processes to avoid duplication of investigation through indiscriminate petitions and transfer of cases brought by people and organizations who have been charged in initial investigations in an effort to thwart due diligence.
The directives were issued by the IGP while reviewing and dealing with files/cases in response to complaints about the indiscriminate transfer of cases from Zonal/State Commands and other investigative units of the Force by operatives of the Force Criminal Investigations Department, Force Intelligence Bureau, and other Force Headquarters Based Investigation outfits under the guise of re-investigation at the request of indicted parties.
He underlined that the scenario frequently results in concurrent investigations by many units, resulting in conflicting arrests of individuals and varying outcomes, even when such matters have been thoroughly investigated and charged in court.
The Inspector-General of Police has therefore warned that transfer or taking over of cases from Commands/Formations to FHQ-based outfits must only be carried out upon approval of a written petition to the IGP which will serve as authority for any such action.
The IGP also urged members of the public to join the Police leadership in its efforts to sanitize the process and strengthen our criminal justice system. He has also cautioned that policemen found guilty of conspiring with the lawyers of indicted parties to abuse the police investigating process will face consequences.
