Legal Framework Must Set Acceptable Standards for State Police System, Bamidele Says

By Yusuf Olukokun

Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate leader, said there is the need for legal framework to set acceptable global standards for the operation of state police system in Nigeria, in order to address the concerns of abuse by state governors.

Bamidele made this known in an article he titled “In Search of a New Police Model.”

Over the months, there had been concerns over the sponsoring of bills that would see to the establishment of state police system in Nigeria, in a bid to address insecurity.

Kayode Egbetokun, Inspector General of Police (IGP), said in April that Nigeria as a country is immature for the establishment of state police.

Senator Opeyemi Bamidele has convincingly insisted that the establishment of state police system must be backed up by the acceptable standards of its global operation.

“In essence, the legal framework must be actionable and definite, evident and transparent, to allay public concern about the state police.

“It must convincingly address thorny issues that can, in the future, encourage the arbitrary use of state police by governors.

“Providing a legal framework for the establishment of state police should not be confused with its actual implementation when eventually adopted. Each sub-national government is at liberty to set its own timeline for the operationalisation of state police within its jurisdiction.”

The Senator also made it known that the two-third of the state assemblies must support and approve the establishment before it can be birthed.

He mentioned that state should be greatly supported and any state that is ready for the operationalisation should be given the “go-ahead” without any delay.

“The development of the legal framework will prevent sub-national governments from hiding under vigilante groups to arm people unconstitutionally.

“But we must comprehensively set out the legal framework for establishing state police so that all sub-national governments can follow laid-down principles and procedures in a bid to protect people’s lives and secure collective assets”, he stated.

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