The Commissioner of Police,in Rivers State,CP Mustapha Bala on Wednesday,November 13,2024 visited Chief Judge of Rivers State,Justice Simeon Amadi at the state judiciary complex in PortHarcourt .
CP Bala in his welcome address said his visit to the Chief Judge is to strengthen collaboration between the Police and the Judiciary for effective justice delivery.
CP Bala stated that the Rivers Police Command under his watch recognizes the strategic role if the office of the Chief Judge in effective justice delivery and highlighted areas of collaboration to include diligent prosecution of cases,training of Investigation Police Officers and legal guidance to Police officers to operate within the framework of the law.
In his response,the Chief Judge of Rivers State Chief judge,Simeon Amadi condemned practice of Police officers filling false charges against suspects Justice Amadi
“In Rivers state there is one issue that has really affected decongestion in our correctional centres this issue of mass arrest and cultism
“Someone steals a bag from a woman,no matchet,you arrest either you charge robbery or cultism.While not stealing.
“When I go for jail delivery,you find cases where young boy steal handset of 200 naira for instance the owner of the handset has taken the handset,is no longer interested in coming to court” Justice Amadi said.
Justice Amadi pledged that the judiciarybwill continue to collaborate with the security agency particular the Police to uphold justice.
Justice Amadi urged the Commissioner of Police to carefully select officers assigned to investigation of cases .
“It is not every Police officer that should be in investigation department.is not every police man. Assessing a Policeman you should be able to know which particular area the officer fits in.
“For a Policeman to be an investigator,he must have elementary knowledge of law.Atleast like cautionary words, like how to effect arrest.Recording of statement.
“I dont like situation where a Policeman will arrest a suspect,because the Policeman is a graduate and the suspect is a school sat,the Policeman will start recording the suspect’s statement.The Policeman should give the suspect the paper to record his statement by himself” the Rivers Chief Judge said.
The Chief Judge stated that the Rivers State now has 14 high court divisions including new ones in Abua/Odual and Bonny Local Government Areas.
