The house of representatives wants police officers to be
banned from consuming alcohol and “hard substances” while on duty.
The resolution was passed during the plenary session on
Wednesday following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance
sponsored by Babajide Obanikoro, a lawmaker from Lagos.
On Sunday, Bolanle Raheem, a lawyer, was shot dead by a
police officer from the Ajiwe police station in Lagos when she and her family
were returning home after Christmas service on Sunday.
The deceased’s mother said the victim was pregnant with
twins.
The shooting has sparked widespread criticism, while the
Lagos police command disclosed that Drambi Vandi, the killer cop, is currently
in detention.
Leading the debate on the motion, Obanikoro said a similar
incident occurred on December 7, when a police officer from the same police
station shot one Gafaru Buraimoh.
The lawmaker said, “this type of occurrence happens often
across Nigeria and the officers usually get away with shooting and killings of
innocent citizens they swore to protect”.
The motion to restrict officers from drinking while on duty
was adopted after it was put to a voice vote by Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of
the house.
Following that, the lawmakers demanded that “police officers
should be banned from consuming alcohol and other hard substances that are
capable of inhibiting their sense of reasoning and capability to carry out
their duties judiciously”.
WHAT THE LAW SAYS
Police officers are already banned from consuming alcohol
and psychotropic substances while on duty.
Section 100 (1) of the Nigeria Police Act 2021 states that:
“While on duty, a police officer shall not take any intoxicating liquor,
psychotropic substances, or stimulants, where he does, he shall be punished in
accordance with the police disciplinary procedures.”
The law also prohibits individuals from offering police
officers alcohol while on duty.
Section 100 (2) states that: “(a) A person who: knowingly
harbours or entertains or either directly or indirectly gives any intoxicating
liquor, psychotropic substances or stimulants to any police officer while on
duty or permits any such police officer to abide or remain in his house
unlawfully; except in cases of extreme urgency.
“(b) By threats or by offer or money, gift, spirits,
liquors, psychotropic substances or stimulants induces or attempts to induce
any police officer to commit a breach of his duty as a police officer or to
omit any part of such duty, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a
fine of at least N50,000.”
However, despite the provisions of the law, there have been
several instances where police officers were caught taking alcohol while on
duty.
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