Rights lawyer, Yakub Eleto has raised objection to the recent requirement of N50,000 fee for submission of petitions at the Police FCID Alagbon, Lagos.
Eleto said he learned of the shocking development after a counsel from his chamber, Olalekan Ogunbunmi visited the FCID Alagbon on 24th of April, 2025 to get update on a petition submitted earlier on the 16th of April.
Although the petition was duly acknowledged by office of the AIG upon submission, but to his shock he was told that it wasn’t registered for attention because the petitioner did not add N50,000 in order for the file to be listed among those to be treated.
Eleto said he then went to visit by himself and the same was repeated to his face.
“I was showed other petitions that were listed for attention and told it’s because they paid N50,000 along with their submission”, Eleto said in an open article for caution.
He said the officer asked him to resubmit same petition with N50,000 otherwise it would still end up missing from their list.
Reacting to the development, Eleto said such financial imposition for submission of petition is a restriction on access to justice and dangerously, could cause many to resort to self help than reporting matters to the police.
He added; “This development is deeply troubling and highly unbecoming of an institution tasked with upholding justice, equity, and the rule of law.
“The current state of affairs, where the consideration of a petition is allegedly dependent on an unofficial financial payment, constitutes a grave injustice and a blatant obstruction of access to justice. It not only erodes public trust in the police force but also sets a dangerous precedent that undermines the constitutional right of every citizen to seek redress and protection through lawful means.
Justice should never be for sale. The Nigeria Police Force must rise above corrupt practices and fulfill its constitutional mandate to protect and serve all citizens equally—irrespective of their financial standing”
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