•CP Ahmed Sanusi
The Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, Ahmed Sanusi, has issued a stern warning to Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and supervisory officers against unlawful detention of suspects, extortion, and systemic lack of oversight within their jurisdictions.
Addressing senior officers today at the Command in Abuja, CP Sanusi expressed deep dissatisfaction over reports of rogue operatives abusing human rights and keeping detainees past statutory limits without legal backing, reports The Nation.
The FCT Police chief cautioned that supervising officers would no longer be allowed to hide behind claims of ignorance when their subordinates engage in misconduct, adding that superior officers will face direct disciplinary sanctions for failures in supervision.
“I recognise your efforts, but you need to check your men. Some of you have allowed some of your men to behave with every sort of negative audacity and do whatever they want. Perhaps they give you the highest returns, so they become untouchable. Take note that if they commit any offence, we’ll deal with you also for lack of supervision,” CP Sanusi warned.
Reiterating that DPOs and divisional heads serve as the accounting officers of their respective divisions, the Police Commissioner stressed that maintaining overcrowded cells and holding suspects beyond 24 hours without a valid remand warrant is evidence of gross incompetence rather than diligence.
“So it is better you watch your men and ensure that you are aware of the detentions in your facilities. You are aware of the days that somebody’s brought into custody in your facility and also the days they are leaving, because you are the accounting officer of such division. You cannot claim to us that ‘I’m not aware when so-and-so happened.’ So why are you there as a deputy? You have to take charge and avoid prolonged detention,” he declared.
Outlining strict operational guidelines in compliance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and the Police Act, CP Sanusi directed all investigating units to ensure case files are properly vetted and that confession statements are video-recorded to guarantee admissibility and transparency.
“If you have somebody that you must detain beyond 24 hours, get a warrant — remand warrant— for such person. Quickly tidy up your cases. Make sure your case files are well vetted. Make sure, based on the provisions of the Act, you also have video recordings of whatever confessions or whatever statements you are taking from your complainants and your suspects. Allow them access to their legal representatives, allow them access to their families, allow them access to their medications, and charge them to court within a very reasonable time,” he instructed.
He further berated officers who view cell congestion as a sign of active policing, calling such practices unacceptable in the modern police force.
“Don’t show that you are working by clustering your cell with suspects. It only shows that you are not working… because how can you keep somebody 5 days, 6 days, you have not done anything, case file is not ready, you are not ready to charge to court? That means you are not working.
“So keeping them for too long doesn’t mean you are working… It just shows that you are grossly irresponsible,” the CP added.
The Command warned that routine inspection teams would deploy across all divisional facilities in the territory to enforce compliance and immediately release unlawfully detained citizens.
