Mobolaji Michael
THE Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest (NBA-SPIDEL) has said it does not lie within the purview of the Nigeria Police Force to collect monies and/or issue certificates to vehicle owners in the guise of Central Motor Information System (CMRIS).
NBA-SPIDEL, in a letter addressed to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, a copy of which was made available to Eighteen-Eleven Media noted that it has it on good authority that the men of the Nigeria Police have since started enforcing compliance wherein purported defaulters have been made to part with their hard-earned money in thousands of Naira.
The letter signed by John Aikpokpo-Martins, Chairman and Funmi Adeogun Secretary questions the legal propriety which enables the Nigeria Police Force to issue Central Motor Information System (CMRIS) Certificates to vehicle owners, particularly when it is not clearly stated in any laws (at least to our knowledge) that the Nigeria Police has any authority to issue car licenses or certificates of any nature to vehicle owners after due registration of vehicles in the appropriate office.
NBA-SPIDEL states further that any such certificate being issued by the Nigeria Police Force without any legal backing is outright illegal, null, and void and therefore of no consequence.
“NBA-SPIDEL, therefore, uses this opportunity to reiterate the fact that the duty of the Nigeria Police in protecting the citizens and enforcing the law does not extend to collecting monies and/or issuing certificates to vehicle owners.
“Regrettably, the men of the Nigeria Police Force have since taken advantage of the ignorance of unsuspecting Nigerians by extorting large sums of money from them for failure to present the CMRIS certificate on demand during road search.
“This illegality has to stop immediately.
Consequently, the NBA-SPIDEL states that these acts of illegality must not continue unabated and therefore unequivocally demands that the Nigeria Police immediately stop the issuance and/or demand for the Central Motor Information System (CMRIS) certificate.
“NBA-SPIDEL, therefore, humbly but strongly demands that you issue a directive immediately stopping the issuance of/demand for the CMRIS certificates nationwide.
“NBA-SPIDEL further demands that the registration website and every other physical registration centre be shut down, and every money already collected from Nigerians be refunded to them within three days of the receipt of this notice.
“Please, note that failure, neglect or refusal to comply with this lawful demand within 7 days of the receipt of this letter will compel NBA-SPIDEL to seek appropriate sanctions in court against your esteemed office and the Nigeria Police Force.”
Eighteen-Eleven Media