The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has questioned the claim that the Nigerian Bar Association has given the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, a seven-day deadline to revoke the issuance of Central Motor Information System Certificates to motorists.
He stated that no agency could take up the police’s initiative.
This was revealed in a statement on X on Sunday.
According to the statement, the police have the right and authority to take whatever approach to combating crime and criminality in Nigeria, just as they do in other countries.
The statement also stated that the police have been issuing CMR for decades, so it is not a new method or document.
The statement reads, “This is unfounded, fake, and misleading. The NBA as a body will react to this. Stop spreading fake news. Who are those who made the statement or declaration, and in what capacity?
“I challenge you to share the press statement with me, then we can talk.
“Do your investigation on this. The police have the right and powers to initiate any approach to curbing crimes and criminality in Nigeria, as it’s applicable in other countries.
“The police have been issuing CMR for decades, so it’s not even a new strategy or document.
“No agency can take the police up on this initiative. They will rather key into it and harmonise the system for the good of the country and its citizens.”
The NBA Section on Public Interest had earlier given a seven-day ultimatum to Egbetokun to halt the directive requiring car owners to register and receive a CMRIS certificate for a charge of at least N6,000.
NBA-SPIDEL questioned the legal foundation for the Nigeria Police Force’s issuance of CMRIS certificates, claiming that no law gave the police the right to provide such licenses or certificates to car owners after registration at the authorised offices.
The call was made in a letter to the Inspector General of Police, which was signed by NBA-SPIDEL Chairman John Aikpokpo-Martins and Secretary Funmi Adeogun.
It stated, “Any such certificate being issued by the Nigeria Police Force without legal backing is outright illegal, null, and void, and therefore of no consequence.”
