The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, has reiterated the directive issued by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, regarding the indiscriminate transfer of cases without written approval.
According to CP Jimoh, there is a complete stop to indiscriminate transfers of cases.
Jimoh who spoke at a session with Crime Reporters Association, CRAN, emphasised that such conduct is strictly prohibited and will no longer be tolerated, as it places unnecessary burdens on the parties involved and delays justice.
He expressed his discontent with the practice of transferring cases from one police station to another without proper protocol.
According to him, IGP Egbetokun has directed a complete stop to indiscriminate transfers, saying if you are investigating a case at a lower level and another authority at a higher level requests a transfer, you cannot just demand it.
He explained the process, saying, “First, if there are any complaints, you should request the duplicate case file. The department investigating the case at the lower level will send you the duplicate file for your review. If, upon examination, you find that there are gaps or grey areas that the lower authority has not addressed, you must write a letter requesting approval for the transfer.
In his words, this represents a full stop to such actions, because many of the matters we deal with involve significant stakes.
CP Jimoh also highlighted how indiscriminate case transfers negatively affect investigations and prosecutions within the courts.
He pointed out that valuable time is wasted when cases are transferred between police stations.
Jimoh said the time that should have been used to conclude investigations is lost, and investigation is our primary responsibility.
The Lagos police commissioner said investigation is a scientific approach aimed at placing the suspect or the accused at the scene of the crime, saying that is the essence of investigation.
CP Moshood said the command would work to improve and strengthen the past achievements of the command so as to reduce criminal activities in the state.
He expressed optimism that sustaining and fostering a better synergy with other sister security agencies would help in implementing a unified strategy to reduce crime to the barest in Lagos.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has expressed concern over unethical practices within the Force, including unwarranted transfers of ongoing cases and the misuse of police authority.
Force PRO, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, issued a statement highlighting the IGP’s directive for transparency, professionalism, and accountability in handling investigations.
The IGP warned officers against indiscriminate case transfers and misuse of authority in civil disputes, especially land matters, emphasizing that cases must be handled within the jurisdiction of occurrence unless authorized by his office.
Key measures include:
Strict disciplinary actions for unauthorized case transfers
Limiting police involvement in civil matters unless criminal elements are present
Mandatory declaration for petition authenticity
Sanctions for filing false petitions
Egbetokun also urged the public to channel complaints directly to relevant police units rather than the IGP’s office and vowed strict consequences for those misusing police authority.
He reassured Nigerians of the Force’s commitment to delivering justice and upholding professionalism.