By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Nigeria’s House of Representatives on Wednesday adopted a resolution seeking to ban police officers on duty from consuming alcohol and “hard substances” while on duty.
The resolution follows the murder of one Mrs. Bolanle Raheem, a lawyer, shot dead on Sunday by a police officer from the Ajiwe police station in Lagos. She was killed on her way back from Christmas service on Sunday, along with her family.
The House during plenary on Wednesday passed the resolution following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Babajide Obanikoro, a lawmaker from Lagos.
Leading the debate on the motion, Obanikoro said a similar incident occurred on December 7, when a police officer from the same police station shot one Gafaru Buraimoh.
The lawmaker said, “this type of occurrence happens often across Nigeria and the officers usually get away with shooting and killings of innocent citizens they swore to protect”.
The motion to restrict officers from drinking while on duty was adopted after it was put to a voice vote by Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House.
The lawmakers therefore demanded that “police officers should be banned from consuming alcohol and other hard substances that are capable of inhibiting their sense of reasoning and capability to carry out their duties judiciously”.
The Killing of Bolanle Raheem has sparked widespread criticism, while the Lagos police command disclosed that Drambi Vandi, the killer cop, is currently in detention.
The deceased’s mother has said the victim was pregnant with twins.
Police officers are already banned from consuming alcohol and psychotropic substances while on duty but lack of implementation has remained a challenge.
Section 100 (1) of the Nigeria Police Act 2021 states that: “While on duty, a police officer shall not take any intoxicating liquor, psychotropic substances, or stimulants, where he does, he shall be punished in accordance with the police disciplinary procedures.”
The law also prohibits individuals from offering police officers alcohol while on duty.
Section 100 (2) states that: “(a) A person who: knowingly harbours or entertains or either directly or indirectly gives any intoxicating liquor, psychotropic substances or stimulants to any police officer while on duty or permits any such police officer to abide or remain in his house unlawfully; except in cases of extreme urgency.
“(b) By threats or by offer or money, gift, spirits, liquors, psychotropic substances or stimulants induces or attempts to induce any police officer to commit a breach of his duty as a police officer or to omit any part of such duty, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of at least N50,000.”
