NBA- SPIDEL Ask IGP To Stop Issuance Of Central Motor Registry Information System Certificates
The Nigeria Bar Association Section on Public Interest (NBA-SPIDEL), has charged the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to stop the issuance of Central Motor Information System (CMRIS) Certificates to Nigerians.
NBA-SPIDEL kicked against the directive of the police that vehicle owners should register with them and obtain CMRIS for a fee of N6,000.
The body disclosed that the men of the Nigerian police have been extorting unsuspecting Nigerians who do not possess the said CMRIS.
NBA-SPIDEL made this known in a letter written to the IGP signed by its Chairman, John Aikpokpo-Martins and Secretary, Funmi Adeogun.
The letter reads, “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.”
NBA-SPIDEL argued that it is not clearly written in the constitution for the police to issue car licenses and certificates to Nigerians, let alone extort them for defaulting, adding that it is illegal for the policemen to do so, as it asked their actions to stop with immediate effect.
It continued, “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 vehicle owners after due registration of vehicles in the appropriate office.
Hafsoh Isiaq is a graduate of Linguistics. An avid writer committed to creative, high-quality research and news reportage. She has considerable experience in writing and reporting across a variety of platforms including print and online.
