Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, on Thursday led a delegation of prominent Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, on a visit to the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
During the meeting, the delegates, primarily consisting of senior lawyers and leading human rights activists in Nigeria, raised significant issues of concern affecting Nigerian society.
The delegation included Mr. Adesina Oke, Esq. from the National Association of Democratic Lawyers, NADL; Barr. Okeke Chinwike from the African Law Foundation, AFRILAW; Mr. Barbara S. Magaji from Amnesty International; Mr. Anietie Ewang from Human Rights Watch, HRW; Mr. Samson Itodo, Executive Director of Yiaga Africa; Mr. Bathsheba Taglia from CISLAC/Transparency International Nigeria; Mrs. Kemi Okenyodo, Executive Director of Partners West Africa-Nigeria, PWAN; and Dr. Itia Otabor from the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development, Centre LSD.
In his address, Falana congratulated IGP Disu on his recent appointment and praised his vision of policing as a mission fundamentally anchored in the protection of human rights.
He emphasized the necessity for strict adherence to the Nigeria Police Act 2020, particularly regarding provisions for family notification upon arrest, the rights of suspects to legal representation, and the prohibition of arrests for civil wrongs.
Falana also advocated for enhanced accountability measures to ensure that officers uphold constitutional guarantees and are held responsible in instances of misconduct.
In response, IGP Disu expressed profound gratitude for the engagement from civil society and reiterated his dedication to a people-centered approach to policing.
He stressed the importance of effective policing in addressing both significant crimes and the daily issues faced by citizens. The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) assured the delegation of the continuous reforms being implemented, which include revised training manuals, enhanced officer welfare, and stringent directives to prevent interference in civil affairs.
The IGP committed to ensuring transparency and accountability while also dedicating efforts to enhance the Complaint Response Unit and the Monitoring Unit.
The Inspector-General conveyed his belief that effective policing was achievable and reiterated that the Nigeria Police Force was unwavering in its commitment to prioritizing accountability, transparency, and the safeguarding of human rights in all its operations.
