Complaint Response Unit Will Promote Civil/Police Accountability, Says Akpata

The immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olumide Akpata, has expressed hope that the newly commissioned Complaint Response Unit (CPU) of the Lagos State Police Command would promote civil/police accountability.

He is also confident that the CRU would serve as a robust platform for engagement between members of the public and the police authority.

Akpata remarked on the commissioning of the Lagos State Police Command CRU in Lagos.

He also hoped that the Unit would boost public confidence in the police to secure and protect them, knowing that the police are ready and willing to listen and address issues.

“As you are aware, the current young generation of Nigerians want their voices heard on relevant national issues.

“I want to strongly believe that this Unit will breach the communication gap and fill the void which gave rise to the #Endsars struggle,” says Akpata.

While hoping the CRU would serve as a platform for information and data gathering, he expects it would enable the police management to receive complaints directly from the public on erring police officers and take timely action.

Akpata insisted that recalling, investigating and disciplining erring officers and providing feedback to the public would promote accountability and transparency.

“Overall, I hope that the unit will bring policing closer to the people and boost police/community collaboration in line with 21st-century innovation and global standards of policing,” he said.

Akpata, however, congratulated the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, the State Police Command and the entire force for the successful execution of the project.

“Although I am not a police officer, I can state categorically that I know the level of work that was put in to ensure the successful execution of this project,” he added.

Akpata recounted advocating for the Police Complaint Response Unit creation in line with Sections 131-133 of the Police Act 2020 during his term as president of the NBA.

“To the best of my knowledge, the Lagos State Police Command has emerged, perhaps unsurprisingly, as the first State Police Command to establish its CRU,” he said.

Akpata admitted that the IGP had issued a circular to all police commands nationwide to immediately set up their respective CRUs in line with Sections 131-133 of the Police Act 2020.

He further commended the IGP for his solemn resolve in giving life to “this all-important Section of the Police Act, which is aimed at promoting civil/ police accountability”.

“I am ever ready and willing to assist the police in any way possible, not just in ensuring the successful execution of this project to actualise its objectives but also in respect of similar progressive projects of the police,” he said.