Human Rights Abuses By Police Have Worsened – Service Commission

The Police Service Commission has said that it was committed to
a quick resolution of human rights abuse cases by the police.

This, it said, would rekindle Nigerians’ confidence that the
force was not above the law and must be accountable for its actions
or inactions.

Speaking while receiving a delegation from the British High
Commission led by Nigeria Security and Justice Adviser, West Africa
Conflict Stability and Security Fund, Sonia Maidar, in Abuja on
Thursday, retired Justice of the Supreme Court and PSC
Commissioner, Justice Ogunbiyi, said resolving very quickly, human
rights abuse cases by the police which she said had continued to
worsen would not only rekindle confidence but will also help the
nation’s democratic evolution.

The PSC spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, in a statement on Friday said
Ogunbiyi pointed out that funding remained the greatest challenge
to the commission.

She noted that the commission has produced a five-year Strategic
Plan and was desirous of building a database to effectively and
efficiently discharge its constitutional responsibilities.

The statement read, “Resolving very quickly, human rights abuses
of Nigerians by the police which had continued to worsen, Ogunbiyi
said, will not only rekindle confidence but will also help the
nation’s democratic evolution.

“To achieve this, she noted that the commission will need funds
to be able to provide the required infrastructure such as a
database to effectively monitor the career and actions of these
police officers.”

Justice Ogunbiyi noted that currently, there was no accurate
data on the number of policemen in the country, a situation she
said had affected the oversight functions of the commission,
stressing that efficient policing was a product of effective and
efficient oversight.

Maider said the British High Commission through the Fund was
working to support police reform in the country, adding that the
delegation was at the commission for an introductory meeting to
know about its challenges.