IGP streamlines police investigations, restricts transfer of cases

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered a streamlining of all police investigative processes to prevent duplication of investigation via indiscriminate petitions and transfer of cases initiated by individuals and groups who have been indicted in initial investigations in the country.

Baba gave the directive on Tuesday while reviewing and dealing with files/cases in response to complaints on indiscriminate transfers of cases from Zonal/State Commands and other investigative units of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

According to a statement made available to The Star by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the IGP stressed that the situation has often given rise to parallel investigations by multiple units leading to conflicting arrests of parties, and different outcomes even when such matters have been conclusively investigated and charged to court.

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Baba, however, warned that transfer or taking over of cases from Commands to Force Headquarters-based outfits must only be carried out upon approval of a written petition to the IGP which he said will serve as authority for any such action.

He equally appealed to Nigerians to be on the same page with the police leadership in its bid to sanitise the process and strengthen the country’s criminal justice system.

He added that police officers found culpable of colluding with lawyers or indicted parties to abuse the police investigative process will be sanctioned.

The Star