Commissioner Warns On Arrest By Proxy

Abia State Commissioner of Police, Ambrose Aisabor, has warned policemen under his command against arrest of persons by proxy.

Aisabor, who made the call during a familiarisation tour of the Mobile Police (MOPOL) 55 Squadron, Osisioma, near Aba, Saturday said that it was unlawful to arrest an innocent person in lieu of a suspect.

“It is against the law of natural justice for a wife, for instance, to be arrested when the husband who committed an offence could not be found. “Policemen should stop arresting people by proxy. “A situation whereby policemen do not see a person that committed an offence and instead go to arrest a relation of the suspect should stop because this is unlawful,” he said.

He advised the police to exercise patience and wait till the actual person that committed an offence would surface and be apprehended than arrest an innocent relation.

Aisabor said that the scenario might have been the order in the past, but with the reform in the police initiated by I-G, Mohammed Abubakar, it had become an offence for any policeman to do that.

He warned policemen against misuse of firearms and to guard against accidental discharge.

The CP said that it was an offence for any policeman to take his firearm to his home after work.

The Commander of the Squadron, Mr Wilson Dankwano, said that the base was established at the peak of the kidnap saga in Aba in 2008 and was able to fight the hoodlums.

Vice Chairman, Abia Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Mr Frank Evserin, commended the commissioner for his efforts since he was posted to the state.