Give up bribe-taking or leave Lagos, Lagos CP tells corrupt officers

*Threatens to hand press photos, details to expose corrupt officers

*Says I can’t share from your misconduct

“I am tired of hearing about shooting or killing of innocent persons. No one has the right to take another man’s life. It is only God that has the right to take life.  It is your responsibility as a DPO to know those who are collecting bribe under you. If you refuse to stop them, they will stop you from being a DPO.  It is embarrassing to see policemen collecting bribes and chasing yahoo yahoo boys for a DPO. I would not cover any DPO.”

In what looks like change at work in the Lagos State Police Command, the state Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Fatai Owoseni, on Tuesday appeared to be deeply worried by the impact of bribe-taking and trigger-happy police officers and men in the social disposition of Lagosians for whose security of lives and properties he is there, as he warns Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in his command to shun bribery or leave Lagos State.

It would be recalled many reported cases of police officers and men on duty seizing the opportunity of their guns to hold people particularly motorists they should be protecting into ransom through wrong arrests, raids for the singular reason of extorting money from them.  Many, according to findings, were said to either be languishing in different jail locations awaiting trial for offences they were innocent of but got into trouble for failing to pay the bribe demanded of them.  Many were also said to have met their untimely deaths for no other reason but this.

Worried by these ugly developments all over the place, the Lagos State Police Commissioner, according to a statement by the spokesperson for the Lagos Police Command, Olarinde Famous-Cole, seized the occasion of a lecture on Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officers at the Police Officers’ Wives’ Association (POWA) Hall, Ikeja, to address the menace of the professional misconduct in the corps.

He warned that the era of impunity and corruption among cops was gone, appealing to his subordinates to come for transfer if they would not want to play by the rules in the state.

Alhaji Fatai Owoseni said: “I am tired of hearing about shooting or killing of innocent persons. No one has the right to take another man’s life. It is only God that has the right to take life,” the spokesperson for the Lagos Police command, Olarinde Famous-Cole, quoted Mr. Owoseni as saying.

“It is your responsibility as a DPO to know those who are collecting bribe under you. If you refuse to stop them, they will stop you from being a DPO.

“It is embarrassing to see policemen collecting bribes and chasing yahoo yahoo boys for a DPO. I would not cover any DPO. I will expose you. Just leave Lagos before I get to your station. I cannot share out of your misconduct. I will give your photographs and details to journalists to expose you.

“I am shocked to hear that some Area Commanders and DPOs are on the pay rolls of fraudsters. I am investigating. Just pray that I don’t get you. Just know that you are causing pains for taxpayers if you are intimidating them and collecting bribe from criminals.

“It is a curse to build a house with the money. The building would collapse on your head. Some of you even take people to the bank to collect money. If you train your children with the money, they won’t be useful to you.

“If those who were in the force before us bastardized it, we would not have the opportunity to be enlisted in the police. I am tired of pleading with police victims because you are doing what you are not supposed to do. Remember, one day, you are going to die and give account to your creator.

“Go back to your areas of jurisdiction and warn your men against brutality, indiscriminate use of handcuffs on pregnant women, elders and persons with disability.

“Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) should take note. I will not tolerate any act of indiscipline.

“Learn a lesson from DPO Ijeshatedo, who shot dead a fashion designer. He is in our custody and we are compiling charges against him. He would soon be arraigned in court.

“All DPOs in Ikorodu should use all resources within their disposals to fish out Badoo cult group that has been causing havoc in the community. I am giving you all 48 hours to decongest your cells. Nobody should be detained more than 48 hours. I will conduct checks on the cells.”

“Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) should take note. I will not tolerate any act of indiscipline. Learn a lesson from DPO Ijeshatedo, who shot dead a fashion designer. He is in our custody and we are compiling charges against him. He would soon be arraigned in court.”