Confusion has set in as the national body of the Nigerian Bar Association has issued a disclaimer on the order given by some of its members to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to suspend the implementation of Central Motor Information System Certificate (CMISC).
The IGP on Friday, ordered all vehicle owners to register and receive the e-CMR at the price of about N6,000.
The suspension order issued on behalf of NBA was signed by John Aikpokpo-Martins (Chairman) and Funmi Adeogun
(Secretary). In the order, the NBA officials slammed the IGP with a 7-day ultimatum.
The statement by both officials addressed to the IGP:
The Inspector General of Police,
Nigeria Police Force,
Force Headquarters,
Louis Edet House,
Garki Area 11,
Abuja.
Dear Sir,
IN RE: ISSUANCE OF CENTRAL MOTOR REGISTRY INFORMATION SYSTEM (CMRIS) CERTIFICATE BY THE NIGERIA POLICE FORCE: A DEMAND FOR THE IMMEDIATE STOPPAGE OF SAME.
The attention of the Nigeria Bar Association Section on Public Interest (NBA-SPIDEL) has been recently drawn to reports all around the country that vehicle owners are mandated to register and obtain a Central Motor Information System (CMRIS) Certificate from the Nigeria Police Force for a cost of not less than #6,000.00 (Six thousand naira).
NBA-SPIDEL also has it on good authority that the men of the Nigeria Police have since started enforcing compliance wherein purported defaulters have been made to part with their hard-earned monies in thousands of Naira.
In the light of these developments, the NBA-SPIDEL questions the legal propriety which enables the Nigeria Police Force to issue Central Motor Information System (CMRIS) Certificates to vehicle owners, particularly when it is not clearly stated in any laws (at least to our knowledge) that the Nigeria Police has any authority to issue car licenses or certificates of any nature to to vehicle owners after due registration of vehicles in the appropriate office.
NBA-SPIDEL states further that any such certificate being issued by the Nigeria Police Force without any legal backing is outright illegal, null, and void and therefore of no consequence. NBA-SPIDEL therefore uses this opportunity to reiterate the fact that the duty of the Nigeria Police in protecting the citizens and enforcing the law does not extend to collecting monies and/or issuing certificates to vehicle owners. Regrettably, the men of the Nigeria Police Force have since taken advantage of the ignorance of unsuspecting Nigerians by extorting large sums of money from them for failure to present the CMRIS certificate on demand during road search.
This illegality has to stop immediately.
Consequently, the NBA-SPIDEL states that these acts of illegality must not continue unabated and therefore unequivocally demand that the Nigeria Police immediately stop the issuance and/or demand for the Central Motor Information System (CMRIS) Certificate.
NBA-SPIDEL, therefore, humbly but strongly demands that you issue a directive immediately stopping the issuance of/demand for the CMRIS certificates nationwide.
NBA-SPIDEL further demands that the registration website and every other physical registration centres be shut down, and every money already collected from Nigerians be refunded to them within 3 days of the receipt of this notice. Please note that failure, neglect or refusal to comply with this lawful demand within 7 days of the receipt of this letter will compel NBA-SPIDEL to seek appropriate sanctions in court against your esteemed office and the Nigeria Police Force.
Please be assured of our utmost respect at all times.
John Aikpokpo-Martins
(Chairman)
Funmi Adeogun
(Secretary)
Reacting on behalf of the Police, the Force PRO noted in a tweet on Sunday, the conflicting statements by the NBA
The update by the Police PRO:
RE: ISSUANCE OF CENTRAL MOTOR REGISTRY INFORMATION SYSTEM (CMRIS) CERTIFICATE BY THE NIGERIA POLICE FORCE: A DEMAND FOR THE IMMEDIATE STOPPAGE OF SAME.
*NOTICE OF DISCLAIMER AND NBA OFFICIAL REACTION TO ISSUANCE OF CMRIS*
The leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has become aware of a statement authored by John Aikpokpo-Martins and Funmi Adeogun allegedly on behalf of the NBA-Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) on the above subject.
The NBA hereby disclaims the said statement credited to John Aikpokpo-Martins and Funmi Adeogun on behalf of the NBA-SPIDEL. The said statement was neither issued with the consent nor authority of the NBA. To be certain, both Aikpokpo-Martins and Funmi Adeogun have no authority whatsoever to issue a statement on behalf of the NBA-SPIDEL or any Section or Forum of the NBA.
The NBA-National Executive Council had since 29 February 2024 removed the Executive Members of SPIDEL, of which John Aikpokpo-Martins Martins and Funmi Adeogun were Chairman and Secretary respectively, and replaced with a Caretaker Commitee. Other members that were removed alongside John Aikpokpo-Martins and Funmi Adeogun are: Princess Frank-Chukwuani, Chinedu Obienu, Abdullahi Karaye, Charity Ibezim, Dr. Monday Ubani, Prof. Paul Ananaba SAN, Kunle Adegoke, SAN, Uju Agomoh, Esq, Kunle Edun, Esq, Okey Ohagba, Esq, Yakubu Bawa, Esq, Dorn-Claimz Enamhe, Esq, Igbeaku Evulukwu, Esq, Chinelo Ofoegbunam, Esq, Sam Ajayi Jaiye, Esq and Chisom Onuoha, Esq.
Both John Aikpokpo-Martins and Funmi Adeogun are not only aware of this fact, they have filed an action to challenge their removal (which by itself acknowledges that they have been removed). Therefore, it is not only a misrepresentation to hold themselves out as they did, it is criminal, illegal, and gross misconduct on their part to do so.
For the avoidance of doubt, the following persons constitute the Caretaker Committee of the NBA-SPIDEL:
1. Sir Steve Adehi, SAN – Chairman.
2. Yakubu Philemon, SAN – Alternate Chairman
3. Ben Oji – Secretary
4. Ronke Adeyemi – Member
5. Eva Amadi – Treasurer
The NBA, therefore, urges the general public to disregard the said statement purportedly issued on behalf of the NBA-SPIDEL by both John Aikpokpo-Martins and Funmi Adeogun, as they lack the authority to do so.
The NBA, however acknowledges that the issuance of Central Motor Registry Information System (CMRIS) certificate is one that the Nigeria Police Force ought to critically reconsider in view of the various levies that Nigerian citizens and businesses are already subjected to, and the present unfavourable economic condition of the country. The concern by NBA over multiple taxations, tariffs, levies, and charges on Nigerians is the primary reason for convening a one day conference coming up on 18 July 2024, with the theme: Tax, Tariffs and the Taxpayer: Exploring the Impact on the Public and Economy.
The President of the NBA, Mr. Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, OON, SAN has reached out to the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force on the introduction of this new levy and will engage the IGP and if need be, the Presidency on the need to reconsider this, or any other government policy that seeks to impose any additional burden on Nigerians.
Akorede Habeeb Lawal
National Publicity Secretary, NBA