Enugu NBA decries spate of exorbitant service charges by police

By Chinelo Kodilichukwu Enugu 

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Enugu branch, has decried alleged spate of exorbitant service charges by police to carry out some of their duties.

The association made this known on Wednesday during the opening of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Enugu Branch 2024 Law Week.

They were reacting after a lecture delivered by a human rights lawyer, Mr Daniel Ogbe, on the title: “Commercialisation of Policing in Enugu State: Implications on Human Rights”.

Ogbe said that the alleged commercialisation of policing in Enugu State had lead to infringement on fundamental human rights of residents, who at times pay exorbitantly to get police services.

“The commercialisation of the Nigeria Police Force in Enugu State represents a significant threat to societal stability and poses a detrimental impact on the welfare of the police themselves.

Ogbe noted that notwithstanding the difficulties and inadequacies in police operations, the police should work with some leave of dedication and commitment to serve the public.

Reacting, another legal luminary Uche Maduemesi, noted that the cost of getting police to make an arrested had gone beyond the normal and police officers do not consider that “ordinary citizens might not access protection and emergency response services due to that”.

Corroborating, the Chairman of NBA, Enugu Branch, Chief Venatus Odo, said that the bar would take necessary action to ensure that the negative action of some police officers should be checked, and fundamental human rights of residents restored.

Odo noted that the recent alleged extortion activities at their various offices in the state also infringe on activities of lawyers and the general judicial process in the state.

Earlier, Justice Peter Obiora, Justice of the Court of Appeal, Abuja,  delivered a keynote paper on the theme: “Bar Practice: The Lawyer at the Centre of Judicial Corruption – Nagging Need for Practice Reforms”, noted that lawyers must live upright.

Obiora, represented by Justice Harold Eya of Enugu State High Court, noted that there are two types of lawyers, “those who know the law and those who know the judge”.

He called on lawyers to desist from encouraging bribery and corruption in the judicial system, adding that lawyers should shun double standard but maintain only the rule of law and truth.

Speaking, Justice Elvis Ngene, the Chief Judge of Ebonyi State, lauded the NBA Enugu Branch for organising the week and standing out among other bar associations in the country.

“I have been enriched today by this lecture by Justice Peter Obiora and I am leaving here happy and fulfilled. This shows that there is still much hope for reform in the judicial system in the country,” Ngene said.

In his remarks, Justice Raymond Ozoemena, Chief Judge of Enugu State, lauded NBA Enugu Branch for upholding the tenets of the legal profession and having due mentoring initiatives to bring up young lawyers.