Arase Frowns At Pre-Trial Detention, As US, UK Delegations Visit PSC

The Police Service Commission (PSC), has frowned at the current practice of Pre-Trial detention, and has vowed that Police officers who have any human rights complaints against them, will have their promotion suspended until they are cleared of such charges.

The Chairman of the Commission, Dr Solomon Arase, made this known while receiving two delegations from the United States of America and the United Kingdom.

“The Commission wants to track complaints against Police”, stressing that, “any Officer who has pending human rights cases will not be cleared for promotions or postings. Any Officer who has human rights issues not conclusively investigated by the Police Complaints Unit, will be stepped down from promotion and postings”, Dr Arase said.

The delegations from the United States of America and the United Kingdom, were at the Corporate Headquarters of the Police Service Commission in Jabi, Abuja, on Thursday, August 10th, 2023 for courtesy visits to the Chairman of the Commission, Dr Solomon Arase, CFR, a retired Inspector General of Police.

The delegations also visited the Commission’s newly established Compliance Monitoring Unit (CMU), a tracking platform on public complaints against serving Nigeria Police Officers, and promised to assist the Commission in drastically reducing human rights abuses by the Police.

The United States Delegation was led by Jason A. Smith, Director of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, while Chris Grimson of the National Agency Anti- Kidnap and Extortion Unit (AKEU) visited on behalf of the United Kingdom.

The PSC Chairman told the Visitors that what Nigerians want, is a responsible Police Force that will respect the human rights of the citizenry. He also added that the Commission decided to set up the CMU, to ensure that the rights of the citizens are protected, and offending Police Officers are sanctioned for misconduct. He told his visitors that the leadership of the Commission and the Police, are united in the fight to stamp out human rights abuses in the country.

The PSC Chairman assured his visitors, that there would be no conflict between the Commission and the Police Management on the operations of the CMU. He however, frowned at pre-trial detentions by the Police, noting that the Commission will no longer tolerate detentions beyond what the law provides for.

He called for assistance in the provision of more systems for the CMU, as the Commission anticipates several complaints against the Police as the Unit takes shape.

Dr Smith, leader of the United States Delegation, said they are in Nigeria to assist strengthen the rule of law, and especially the Police. He noted that PSC is a key stakeholder in their project to strengthen the rule of law in Nigeria, and promised to work with the Commission to achieve this.

Mr Grimson of the National Crime Agency of the British High Commission, promised to partner with the Commission in the training of the personnel of the Nigeria Police. He spoke on intelligence sharing, proper investigation to break down barriers between the Police and other security agencies in the country.