Enugu State Justice Reform Team (ESJRT) Committee on the Reactivation of Human Rights Desks in Police Stations in Enugu State on Wednesday 17th April, 2013 paid a courtesy call on the new Commissioner of Police of Enugu State; Mr. Tonye Ebitibituwa.

The visiting team made up of personnel of Organizations and Institutions that are members of the ESJRT Committee on the Reactivation of the Human Rights Desk was led by its Chairman Mr. Tom Anyafelude, the Deputy Registrar, Customary Court of Appeal Enugu. The Organizations include: Prisoners Rehabilitation & Welfare Action PRAWA, Ministry of Justice Enugu State (MOJ), National Human Rights Commission NHRC), International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Catholic Institute for Development Justice and Peace (CIDJAP), Carmelite Prisoners Interest Organization (CAPIO) and the Welfare Department of Nigerian Prisons Service.

Chairman of the Committee Mr. Anyafelude told the Commissioner of Police that the Committee is part of the Enugu State Justice Reform Team established by a joint decision of all Justice Sector institutions in Enugu State few years ago to identify and address issues hampering the smooth sailing of the sector in the State. He stated that the sole purpose of the visit is to notify the Commissioner of Police of the existence of the Team in the State and to assure him of its support.

The Secretary of the Team Mrs. Nnenna Nwome of the Ministry of Justice Enugu further briefed the CP about that the reactivation of the Human Rights Desk in police stations and the establishment of model police stations are part of the ongoing concerns of the Team.. Mrs. Nwome also pointed out that this Committee has selected 6 police stations in the Enugu State for this and that the Committee has successfully organized a workshop funded by Justice for All (J4A) of DFID towards the successful establishment of model stations in Enugu State. At the workshop, according to Mrs. Nwome, the inputs of the Nigerian Police Force were considered and all positive recommendations were taken. These inputs Nwome added were accommodated in the proposed Police Manual which is currently under production.
The group’s Public Relation Officer Reverend father Ambrose of Carmelite Prisoners’ Interest Organization CAPIO reemphasized that the reason for the visit is to elicit the support of the new Commissioner of Police that the group has enjoyed such over time from past Commissioners.

Responding, the Commissioner of Police Mr. Ebitibituwa said that the visit of the Team is very timely especially now the Nigerian Police is making efforts towards image and self re-evaluations in line with the directives of the Inspector General of Police. According to CP, the Inspector General of Police has directed that all the activities of Nigerian Police Force must be in tune with the global best practices. The CP acknowledged that he has had several interactions with Justice for All (J4A) of DFID concerning the establishment of model police stations in the State and pointed out that the workshop organized by the Committee as mentioned was approved by him when he was at the Force Headquarters. He also acknowledged that there are serious issues of human rights abuse that is yet to be addressed by committees like Enugu State Justice Reform Team one of which is the constant harassment and intimidation of policemen by ‘powerful’ civilians.

The Commissioner gave his words to cooperate and work with the Justice Reform Team and pointed out that a lot of work needs to be done by the Committee and other stakeholders regarding the way victims of crime are at times intimidated. He mentioned that he has cautioned and instructed his men that any police man who does not go to court to give evidence and thereby attracting a garnishee order will pay for it.

Some of the issues raised by the Commissioner affecting the effective performance of as it relates to speeding-up of criminal justice include: Investigating Police Officers (IPOs) using their personal money to transport themselves to court to give evidence even when they are already posted outside the locations of courts and the quality of Legal Opinion LO from the Ministry of Justice (MOJ).

In his closing remarks, the Chairman of the Team, Mr. Tom Anyafulude told the Commissioner that the Police IPOs in Enugu State do not bring minor criminal cases within the jurisdiction of the Customary Courts to the Customary Courts. He pleaded with the CP to look into and promised to make a copy of the Customary Court Law available to the Commissioner who promised to call the attention of his officers to it.