Stop Offering Us Bribes, Police, FRSC Tell Nigerians

The Police and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Tuesday
urged Nigerians to stop offering their officers a bribe.

They also urged the public to report any officer who demands a
bribe.

The two agencies were among participants at a one-day virtual
stakeholder dialogue on “effective and sustainable strategies for
curbing retail corruption” organised by the Presidential Advisory
Committee against Corruption (PACAC).

PACAC Executive Secretary Prof Sadiq Radda said citizens have a
critical role to play in ending petty (retail) corruption, most of
which occur in form of bribery.

He believes retail corruption can be reduced when citizens are
law-abiding and comply with the rules, and when institutions play
their roles effectively.

“Cutting corners is why we have retail corruption. There are
processes for getting things done. We should have respect for
process and procedures,” he said.

Radda called for the deployment of technology to automate the
processes that are prone to abuse.

He added that government agencies have a duty to provide quality
and efficient service delivery to achieve a system where average
Nigerians would not need to cut corners or get frustrated.

A Deputy Commissioner of Police, Olaolu Adegbite, of the Force
Intelligence Bureau, urged Nigerians to report infractions by
officers and men to the X-Squad, the Inspector-General of Police
Monitoring Unit and the Police Complaint Response Unit (PCRU).

“The X-Squad monitors unethical conduct. Citizens can approach
the squad with information.

“The IG Monitoring Unit also conducts sting operations and
arrests officers in the field and makes recoveries. Citizens must
provide support through evidence.

“Citizens should stop the act of offering bribe and
gratification, which is a crime under the Criminal Code,” he
said.

A senior FRSC official, Ntukidem Godwin, said the Corps has
deployed technology through body cameras to monitor officers’ field
activities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), adding that
there are plans to replicate it in other states.

He said Nigerians who comply with traffic rules do not have a
reason to offer a bribe to road safety officers.

“Don’t commit traffic violations and don’t offer our officers
bribe. Don’t tempt us with bribe so that we can let you go,” he
said.

Godwin added that some members of the public who make reports
hardly present evidence, which makes it difficult to sanction
erring officers.

The event featured a keynote address by the Independent Corrupt
Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) chairman
Prof Bolaji Owasanoye (SAN), represented by Dr Chris Chinda.

Senate Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes Committee Chairman
Senator Suleiman Abdul Kwari was represented by his advisor Ashley
Emenike.

Other speakers included Abiodun Aikhomu of the Office of the
Attorney-General of the Federation, Usman Dakinviri of the Nigeria
Customs Service, and the Executive Chairman, Centre for
Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) Debo Adeniran, amongst
others.

The Police and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Tuesday
urged Nigerians to stop offering their officers a bribe.

They also urged the public to report any officer who demands a
bribe.

The two agencies were among participants at a one-day virtual
stakeholder dialogue on “effective and sustainable strategies for
curbing retail corruption” organised by the Presidential Advisory
Committee against Corruption (PACAC).

PACAC Executive Secretary Prof Sadiq Radda said citizens have a
critical role to play in ending petty (retail) corruption, most of
which occur in form of bribery.

He believes retail corruption can be reduced when citizens are
law-abiding and comply with the rules, and when institutions play
their roles effectively.

“Cutting corners is why we have retail corruption. There are
processes for getting things done. We should have respect for
process and procedures,” he said.

Radda called for the deployment of technology to automate the
processes that are prone to abuse.

He added that government agencies have a duty to provide quality
and efficient service delivery to achieve a system where average
Nigerians would not need to cut corners or get frustrated.

A Deputy Commissioner of Police, Olaolu Adegbite, of the Force
Intelligence Bureau, urged Nigerians to report infractions by
officers and men to the X-Squad, the Inspector-General of Police
Monitoring Unit and the Police Complaint Response Unit (PCRU).

“The X-Squad monitors unethical conduct. Citizens can approach
the squad with information.

“The IG Monitoring Unit also conducts sting operations and
arrests officers in the field and makes recoveries. Citizens must
provide support through evidence.

“Citizens should stop the act of offering bribe and
gratification, which is a crime under the Criminal Code,” he
said.

A senior FRSC official, Ntukidem Godwin, said the Corps has
deployed technology through body cameras to monitor officers’ field
activities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), adding that
there are plans to replicate it in other states.

He said Nigerians who comply with traffic rules do not have a
reason to offer a bribe to road safety officers.

“Don’t commit traffic violations and don’t offer our officers
bribe. Don’t tempt us with bribe so that we can let you go,” he
said.

Godwin added that some members of the public who make reports
hardly present evidence, which makes it difficult to sanction
erring officers.

The event featured a keynote address by the Independent Corrupt
Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) chairman
Prof Bolaji Owasanoye (SAN), represented by Dr Chris Chinda.

Senate Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes Committee Chairman
Senator Suleiman Abdul Kwari was represented by his advisor Ashley
Emenike.

Other speakers included Abiodun Aikhomu of the Office of the
Attorney-General of the Federation, Usman Dakinviri of the Nigeria
Customs Service, and the Executive Chairman, Centre for
Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) Debo Adeniran, amongst
others.