‘There is no law that permits police to take bribe in Nigeria’ – DPO, Garba

By Cyprian Ebele, Oniitsha

The Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Central Police Station, CPS, Oniitsha, Anambra State, Mr. Rabiu Garba, has reportedly insisted that no section of the law in Nigeria that authorized police to take bribe.

Garba made this known while lecturing the Catholic Men Organization, CMO, at the St. Augustine’s Catholic Parish, Omeife 3’3, Nkwelle-Ezunaka, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The DPO, Garba who lectured them on bail conditions and other issues, said there are three types of bails which the public should be aware of and know when they are applicable.

According to him, the three include, police bail, Court bail and Appeal court bail stating that in the police bail case that bail is free.

“Bail is free in the police bail and any rank and file that insists on money for bail, try and get to the DPO. There is no section of the law that authorized police to take bribe.

“However, because of the meagre salary payment some take home, they take bribe at their own risk. Also, if you are not granted bail when it is a bailable offence, under human right justice system, you can get to a magistrate court for bail if it is not granted to you by the police,” he stated.

On the issue of holding a proxy responsible for an offence he did not commit, the DPO stated that it is illegal to do so, maintaining that only those who commit the offence should be held responsible.

“But in the case of a minor committing an offence, it is the parents of the minor that should be held responsible, because they would have ensured that they monitor and prevent the minor from committing the offence, he or she is ignorant of the dangers or outcome inherent in,” he explained.

Earlier, the chairman of the planning committee of the event, Vincent Ezekwueme, who also represented the state Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Tony Ifeanya, also lectured on the theme, “The role of fathers in the families and church.”

According to Ezekwueme, the topic is most apt and appropriate now that majority of Christian fathers  have neglected the roles expected of them to play, stating that fathers as leaders must lead by example.

Also, Francis Nnajiagidi, chairman, CMO, St Augustine Parish, thanked the DPO for the lecture he delivered for the CMO, adding that he has thought them what they did not know about.

He advised fathers to take good care of their families, stating that” Every father should put more effort as a human being to make sure his children, wives are well behaved both at home and in school.

The Parish Priest,  Rev. Fr Fidelis Chiefe, stated that,”The fathers should reflect on their role as fathers both in the family and church, because they are pillars , they contribute to church and family.

“Church is responding up to its responsibilities, they always hold programmes, conferences both for the parents, to help for the upbringing of the family, because if there is no family, there will be no church, the family responds back to build a church, that’s why I said family is a nuclear church,” he explained.