Deji Adeyanju Asks Police Inspector-Basic To Cease Enforcement Of ‘Unlawful’ Third-Party Automobile Insurance coverage Or Face Court docket Motion

In his petition, Adeyanju argued that the transfer just isn’t solely unpopular but additionally lacks authorized backing underneath the Police Act, which governs the operations of the Nigerian Police Pressure.

Nigerian human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has petitioned the Inspector-Basic of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, calling for the instant suspension of the proposed enforcement of third-party insurance coverage for car homeowners.

In his petition, Adeyanju argued that the transfer just isn’t solely unpopular but additionally lacks authorized backing underneath the Police Act, which governs the operations of the Nigerian Police Pressure.

Adeyanju additional alleged that the enforcement, if carried out, might result in widespread extortion of Nigerians throughout the nation.

He identified that the accountability for regulating car security and associated points lies with the Federal Highway Security Corps (FRSC), not the police.

In response to Adeyanju, the Nigerian Police Pressure doesn’t have the authorized authority, or “vires,” to impose such enforcement on car homeowners.

The human rights lawyer has given the authorities 48 hours to publicly halt the enforcement, warning that failure to take action would immediate him to method the court docket to hunt a judicial overview on whether or not the Nigerian Police Pressure has the authorized energy to implement third-party insurance coverage.

The assertion learn, “We’re a public curiosity legislation agency dedicated to selling transparency, accountability and the rule of legislation.

“Just a few days in the past, we stumbled upon a information report on the choice of the Nigeria Police Pressure to implement third-party insurance coverage for car homeowners. Though our preliminary response was to dismiss the information as being the product of some blogger’s creativeness, subsequent affirmation of the information by your good self has compelled us to urgently write this letter to you, sir, requesting that the proposed enforcement be shelved.

“Sir, we should instantly state that not solely is the proposed enforcement unpopular, it’s also not backed by the Police Act, being the extant legislation establishing the Nigerian Police Pressure, and we dare say, some other legislation.

He mentioned the ability to manage points bordering on the security of individuals and automobiles on Nigerian roads is reasonably domiciled with the Federal Highway Security Corps.

“Broad because the powers of the Nigeria Police could also be, it can’t be prolonged to these points that aren’t immediately linked to its elementary duties underneath the Police Act.
Adeyanju defined that in a plethora of instances, and extra not too long ago within the case of Nwaboshi v F.R.N & Ors (2023) LPELR-60698 (SC), the Supreme Court docket reiterated the precept that the powers of safety businesses in Nigeria aren’t massive.

“Certainly, the powers of the Nigerian Police Pressure aren’t massive. It’s our opinion, sir, that the Nigerian Police Pressure lacks the vires to implement third-party insurance coverage for car homeowners in Nigeria, and the proposed enforcement have to be instantly discarded.

“Moreover, it’ll seem, sir, that the Nigeria Police Pressure underneath your management is more and more tilting in direction of income technology, as towards its core constitutional mandate of defending lives and properties in Nigeria.”

He mentioned in a number of months in the past, the Nigeria Police Pressure got here up with one other unpopular thought of requesting Nigerians to pay the sum of N5,375 to register their automobiles on the Police Central Motor Registry platform.

“It took the intervention of well-meaning Nigerians earlier than the proposed enforcement of the police CMR was halted.

“Barely two months later, we’re once more confronted with the choice of the Nigeria Police Pressure to implement third-party car insurance coverage, a call that you’re conscious will finally result in additional extortion of helpless Nigerian motorists by officers of the Nigeria Police Pressure,” the lawyer acknowledged.

“We should, subsequently, ask, why is the Nigeria Police fixated on insurance policies which are apparently geared toward producing cash, whereas the overwhelming majority of Nigerians throughout the six geopolitical zones proceed to undergo from grave insecurity starting from kidnapping, armed theft, terrorism, homicide, and many others. How does the third-party car insurance coverage resolve our instant safety points?
He mentioned, “Placing the foregoing into consideration, it’s our opinion, sir, that the proposed enforcement has not been nicely thought out and have to be instantly discarded.”

The human rights lawyer famous that the insurance policies which are more and more being churned out by the Nigeria Police Pressure underneath your management, although masked with safety issues, are certainly cash producing schemes that has turn into an excessive amount of for the common Nigerian to bear.

“We, subsequently, enchantment to you to shelve the enforcement of the third-party motor insurance coverage.”

“Please be aware that if the proposed enforcement just isn’t publicly halted inside 48 hours, sir, we’ll method the Court docket to find out, amongst others, whether or not the Nigeria Police Pressure has the powers to implement third-party car insurance coverage for car homeowners,” he added.