By Fatima Zahra Muhammad
The Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Dr. Solomon Arase has asked lawyers to desist from criminalizing civil matters.
Arase stated this in Abuja when he paid host to the leadership of the Unity Bar, (Nigerian Bar Association Abuja branch).
According to him, decriminalizing civil matters saves time that would have been wasted when reported to the police.
“It is wrong and should be discouraged, civil matters should be treated as civil matters and arbitration should serve the parties and the society better.
“We should avoid time wasting in criminalizing civil matters and sending them to the Police when they can be better handled outside of the Police,” he said.
Arase urged the Nigerian Bar Association to work towards a robust legal system in Nigeria that inspires the citizens to seek redress and justice.
He announced plans by the commission to inaugurate a Compliance Monitoring Unit to ensure the efficiency of the Police Complaints Response Units.
The Commission according to him will henceforth ensure that it prevents a system that does not attend to public complaints.
Earlier in his address, Bar. Afam Okeke, Chairman of the Association and leader of the entourage sought for the PSC’s intervention in the implementation of qualifications acquired by Lawyers who came into the Police as Junior Officers.
According to him, the affected persons who have upgraded their qualifications are currently appearing and defending cases in Courts for the Nigeria Police Force but still wearing junior ranks.
The PSC Chairman thereby acknowledged the Association’s request and promised to act on it.
