Ipaye, who said this in an interview in Lagos, maintained that the existence of State Police would help eliminate unnecessary delays in the dispensation of justice.
``We have officers investigating and sometimes in the course of investigation they are transferred. Sometimes they finish the investigation, we are prosecuting, they are supposed to come and give evidence in court. By the time we need them, they say they have been transferred and they have to send signal to bring them back. As a result, a lot of prosecutions are frustrated because you can’t find the IPO. He has already been transferred.
``Even in magistrate courts where police prosecute, sometimes mid-way, they are transferred. This is a major contributory factor to the issue of slow pace of prosecution, to the issue of prison congestion because people are then kept in detention for an unreasonably long time.”
The attorney-general also said state government-controlled police would also help the country address its security challenges as people who were familiar with their environments would be in charge of ensuring security.
He said the argument that state governors would misuse the State Police, if introduced, was not strong enough, adding that community policing was an integral part of true federalism.
Ipaye added government’s recent introduction of community service as penalty for minor offences had helped to decongest prisons in Lagos State.
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