Hyacinth Chinweuba
The Motor Traffic Division of the Nigeria Police Force in a show of unprofessionalism has charged a citizen to a magistrate court in Evboriaria, Benin City for driving his vehicle over what they termed criminal offence under a nonexistent law known as ‘Public Highway Act.
According to Leftist Osazee Edigin, Public Relations Officer, Edo Civil Society Organisation, “On the 26th of May, 2020. a citizen by the name Kevin Ulebe was pulled over by officers attached to Operation Wabaizigan who were inaugurated to fight violent crimes in the state with vehicle identification number 030 along Upper Sokponba Road and requested to provide his vehicle documents which he obliged. On realising that some of the documents had expired, they demanded the sum of N5, 000 from him as bribe to be left off the hook.
“He explained to them that, as a graduate, he has been out of job for over two years and had not driven the vehicle for almost a year now. He further went on to plead with them that things are difficult for him and his family at present but was able to get a loan of N1, 000 which he bought the fuel that is in the car to go drop an application somewhere and that, he cannot also give out bribe as a principle.”
According to Edigin, “All his entreaties fell on deaf ears as the Operation Wabaizigan officers wouldn’t want to hear any of such. When it seems he was not going to offer them bribe, they took him to the Motor Traffic Division office in Area Command compound along Sapele Road and handed him over.
The suspect was able to reach out to a member of Edo Civil Society Organisations who called some of his colleagues to come to his aid.”
The civil rights activists tried to make the police officers see to his predicaments and release the vehicle with a warning to ensure the papers are renewed when gainfully employed. The officers also rebuffed the plea of the activists and threaten to deal with the suspect by charging him to court hence he is not willing to settle them in their office.
“Today, the police actually charged him to court while EDOCSO made arrangements for lawyers to represent him Pro Bono.
The case was taken before a magistrate on a four count charge. The team of lawyers representing the suspects, led by Dele Igbinedion Esq, Robinson Ayodele Otuakhena and Nelson Irehovbude within a twinkling of an eye brought to the notice of the magistrate to the effect that the law upon which the suspect was being arraigned does not exist, furthermore that, the magistrate court lacks jurisdiction to entertain such suit among other legal fireworks that dismantled the frivolous charges before the court.
They prayed that the court should strike out the case and discharge and acquit the suspect. The police prosecutor became feeble in her defence and could not prove otherwise. In the court ruling, the suspect was discharged and acquitted.” said Edigin.
It has become a known fact how officers of the Motor Traffic Division of the Nigeria Police Force in Edo state have turned themselves to revenue agents of Edo state government by constituting nuisance along major roads in the metropolis ondaily basis. Residents have been lamenting how they barricade major roads and taking vehicle owners to their office along Sapele Road to extort them of amounts ranging between N5, 000 and N20, 000 or more on defective vehicle papers, a visit to their office would confuse any first visitor to think he is in a market place.
A quick examination of the Police Act did not confer such powers on them and they have left their core duties and have been shortchanging Edo state government in revenue generation in the area of Road Tax running into millions of naira annually.
“Our team of lawyers have vowed to challenge the powers of the police in the area of taxation and their incessant extortion of citizens leading to shortfalls of revenue to the state government.
The legal team is a combination of two law chambers domiciled in Edo state with combine experience of over 70 years to ensuring that, the records are set straight as to the jurisdiction of the Nigeria Police Force on tax related matters in Nigeria. This is one case that will settle a whole lot of abuse of the powers of the Nigeria Police Force. We need to further establish which agencies of government can enforce road tax and other sundry issues as we move on with this case.” the group said.
