Lagos Police Commissioner Insists “Bail is Free”

Commissioner of Police for Lagos Command, Mr Zubairu Muazu, has warned policemen in the state to desist from charging suspects for bail, insisting this is free.

Speaking at the commissioning of an Ultra-Modern Statement-taking room facility at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos on Tuesday, the top cop stressed that any policeman caught collecting money for bail would be severely dealt with.

He charged them to shun every form of corruption and exploitation of suspects, saying any policeman collecting money for the bail of a suspect can be likened to a kidnapper and would be treated as such by facing the full wrath of the law.

“Anybody collecting money for bail is a kidnapper, the only difference is that the kidnappers hide their victim in an undisclosed location while policemen collecting money for bail hide theirs where everyone knows,” Mr Muazu said.

He charged his men to make effective use of the ultramodern facility so as to further help bring justice to many and help the police to deepen their investigation.

The commissioner advised the department to utilise the facility in assisting prosecution of suspects in compliance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2015.

The Officer-in-Charge of the State CID, Deputy Commissioner of Police Yetunde Longe, during the Commissioning said that SCID was more than ready to embrace global best practices in investigation, as she commended RoLAC for the donation of equipment and training of officers attached to the department.

“This will in no small measure add value to our productivity. I want to assure the CP, the donor and other stakeholders that this facility will be judiciously utilised for the purpose for which it is donated,” she added.

Further embracing digitalization of the police force, DCP Yetunde Longe also unveiled the new website of the State CID, www.scidlagos.org, to showcase the achievements of the of the Lagos command as well department and to enhance communication in this digital age.