‘We Have Repented’, Stop Offering Us Bribes – Police, FRSC Tell Nigerians

The Nigeria Police Force, NPF and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) have jointly appealed to Nigerians to stop offering their officials a bribe.

Naija News reports that the agencies said this in a statement date onuesday, July 27.

The two agencies as well urged citizens to report any bribe demanding officer to the appropriate authority, noting that doing so will curtail unlawful act by both parties.

Naija News understands that the police and FRSC 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).

Speaking during the event, PACAC Executive Secretary, Prof. Sadiq Radda said Nigerians have a major role to play in ending petty (retail) corruption, most of which occur in form of bribery. Radda believes retail corruption can be reduced when citizens are law-abiding and comply with the rules, and when institutions play their roles effectively.

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

The government official called for the deployment of technology to automate the processes that are prone to abuse. Radda further stressed 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.