Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has promised to build ten modern interrogation centers for the state police command to assist in the dispensation of criminal justice.

According to Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, Governor Ambode has graciously approved the construction of ten modern interrogation centers in ten area commands in the state.

Edgal said the contract for the establishment of the interrogation rooms with recording devices in ten area commands of the state had been awarded, saying the centers would be equipped with modern gadgets for the interrogation of suspects.

He said government had also approved a desk for police detectives at the DNA centre so they could go to crime scenes with experts whenever the need arises.

The Police Commissioner said this at a training organised by the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, and the Lagos State Police Command for Senior Cops.

Also speaking, Human Rights Activist, Femi Falana, called for adequate funding for the police, saying it would be difficult for them to uphold rule of law without funds.

Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria said there was a need to sit with the Attorney General of the Federation for sufficient money to be availed the police for diligent investigation.

According to him, Police stations are supposed to be given running grants but it is not so, saying they are made to depend on the public to assist. This is why sometimes, it is about who pays the piper. It is not their fault but the fault of the society. “This is why I advise people clamouring for state police that certain things must be put in place first. Is it a state that cannot pay salary that will arm its police?

“There are equipment the police can use to check if weapons are kept somewhere. This can be done through a radar. The same equipment can be used to scan vehicles even from a distance to a checkpoint and so, the police do not have to stop and start checking items.

“All these come at a cost and this is why the police must be properly funded to perform their duty. Policemen do not have to stay on the road to monitor traffic offenders.

“There are supposed to be cameras monitored from a control room. The police do not have to be on the road arguing with offenders. Anyone who commits traffic offence, should simply be posted his ticket at his residence.

“We need to let the government know that you cannot police the road without gadgets. You cannot deal with suspects without equipment. You have to be very careful and be ahead of your suspects.

“The key to the success of the police is for government to fund them adequately. When I was in Guinea-Bissau, I noticed Nigeria Police men on Peacekeeping mission there performed very well. This is because they were well kitted and funded.”

Falana condemned the government for sending security operatives to fight terrorists with inadequate weapons.

He said it was the responsibility of the police to contact families of arrested suspects to notify them their relatives were being detained.

According to Falana, such calls should be at the expense of the police, hence, another reason the agency needed more funds.

He advocated for conjugal visits and access to telephone calls for inmates, noting that visit by spouses would check issues of homosexuality, lesbianism.

Falana said government was lucky because most Nigerians did not know their rights. “You can sue the government for failing to protect your relative especially if he’s a bread-winner who died during a crisis.