By: Felix Ikpotor
The Rivers State Police Command on Wednesday, hosted the Directorate of Force Legal Services and police lawyers from various commands and zones to a dinner as part of activities marking the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Rivers State.
The dinner, held on Wednesday night at the Officers’ Mess, Old GRA, Port Harcourt, provided an opportunity for the police legal officers and other stakeholders to strengthen professional relationships and celebrate their contributions to the administration of justice.
In his remarks, the Director, Directorate of Force Legal Services, Force Headquarters, Abuja, CP Aremu Silas, said the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, who previously served as Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, remained appreciative of the contributions of the Directorate of Legal Services in the command.
Silas said the IGP had not forgotten the contributions of the legal officers to the Rivers State Police Command, urging legal departments in other commands to emulate the performance of their Rivers counterparts.
He added that the IGP had charged police lawyers across the country to improve their performance, particularly in the diligent handling and prosecution of cases.
“I will implore the legal departments of various states to emulate the performance of the Directorate of Legal Services of Rivers State.
“The IGP wants us to up our game. He knows that we cannot win all cases, but we should attend to them and diligently prosecute our civil cases,” Silas said.
Also speaking at the event, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, said the decision by the NBA to hold its annual conference in Rivers State was evidence that the state was safe, contrary to negative perceptions in some quarters.
Adepoju commended the NBA for choosing Rivers as the host state, saying the successful hosting of the conference would help dispel concerns about the security situation in the state.
“You have brought the conference to Rivers, and we are very happy. It contradicts the negative impression that Rivers is not safe, and this will show the whole world that for it to hold here, it means Rivers is safe and we are working.
“So, we put everything in place to make you enjoy yourselves and to make the state safe. We have locked down the state since you came, with deployments to every nook and cranny of the state.
“We are happy to have you here. To our force legal officers, know that this night is your night. We are having this dinner specially to celebrate you. You have been wonderful, and we cannot do without showing our appreciation,” he said.
Also speaking, the State Legal Officer, Directorate of Legal Services, Rivers State Police Command, CSP Stephen Onwochei, described the dinner as more than a social gathering, noting that it offered an avenue for strengthening professional relationships and advancing the cause of justice and the rule of law.
Onwochei said the gathering would enable participants to exchange ideas, foster mutual understanding and celebrate the contributions of police lawyers to the administration of justice in Nigeria.
He said, “The legal profession occupies a strategic position in every civilised society. Equally, policing remains one of the most critical institutions for maintaining law and order. Where law and law enforcement work in harmony, society enjoys peace, security and development.
“It is therefore fitting that during this prestigious gathering of the legal community, we pause to acknowledge and celebrate the important role played by police lawyers who stand at the intersection of law enforcement and legal practice.”
