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Argungu’s Directive: A Long-Awaited Confrontation of Decades of Police Overreach and Court Failures, by John Egbeazien Oshodi

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DIG Hasimu Argungu, Egbetokun and Tinubu

For far too long, the Nigerian Police Force has operated with unchecked impunity, treating themselves as above the law. They’ve trampled on citizens’ rights, blurred the lines between civil and criminal matters, and abused their power relentlessly. Instead of protecting the public, the police have become a profit-driven entity, exploiting citizens as their prey. And let’s be clear—the government, across successive regimes, has been complicit in this endemic lawlessness. The recent directive from the Police Service Commission (PSC) prohibiting police officers from interfering in civil matters like land, rent, and marital disputes is not a groundbreaking new law. It is merely a reiteration of a long-ignored truth. Retired DIG Hasimu Argungu’s announcement does not change the fact that this directive has been flouted for decades. Will this directive be enforced, or is it just another empty promise designed to placate a disillusioned public?

Chronic Impunity in Civil Matters

The law is crystal clear: civil disputes belong in the courts, not in the hands of police officers. Yet, the Nigerian Police Force has consistently ignored this, inserting themselves into matters they have no business handling. Why? Because it has been a lucrative operation for corrupt officers. By involving themselves in disputes over land, rent, or even marital issues, officers have extorted bribes, intimidated citizens, and abused their authority without any repercussions.

This chronic impunity is not just a failure of individual officers; it is an institutionalized culture of corruption. Officers operate with the understanding that they can cross the line into civil matters and get away with it because no one—least of all the government—will stop them. The PSC directive, led by retired Deputy Inspector General of Police Hasimu Argungu, is a necessary step, but it’s also a glaring indictment of a system that has thrived on lawlessness for too long.

Decades of Governmental Apathy and Complicity

Let’s not mince words: successive Nigerian governments have turned a blind eye to the police’s unlawful interference in civil matters. This is not just negligence; it is deliberate. By allowing the police to meddle in these disputes, governments have effectively weaponized the police force as a tool of control and intimidation. Rather than serve the public, the police have been used to suppress it, with officers taking advantage of their power to harass and extort citizens involved in civil disputes.

Everyone knows the rules, but everyone—from government officials to top police officers—has made their own rules. This is not a broken system; it’s a system working exactly as those in power want it to. The police have become a private army for hire, stepping into civil disputes whenever it suits their interests. And where is the accountability? Nowhere to be found.

Commending Argungu, But Not Ignoring the Past

While I commend retired DIG Hasimu Argungu for his new decisions, let us not pretend that he and others in the Police Service for decades didn’t know the truth. The law has always been clear that civil matters belong in the courts, and yet, for years, police officers have been allowed—if not encouraged—to overstep their boundaries. The fact that Argungu is now championing this reform is welcome, but it does not erase the long-standing complicity of those in power. This isn’t a newfound revelation; it’s a long-overdue admission of what we’ve always known.

A Failed Imitation: Nigeria’s Poor Application of Adopted Legal Systems

Nigeria adopted the American Constitution, but instead of upholding its principles, it practices them badly. Similarly, it adopted the common law systems of Britain, yet it has made a mockery of these systems. In the United States and Britain, civil matters like land disputes, rent disagreements, and marital issues are handled in a civilized, legal manner—by the courts, not the police. In these societies, there is a clear separation between law enforcement and civil disputes, as it should be.

But in Nigeria, for decades upon decades, from one Inspector General of Police (IGP) to another, the police have made a habit of trampling all over these boundaries. Men and women in uniform have repeatedly attacked, arrested, and politicized these civil matters. It’s a complete perversion of justice, and the entire system—from the top brass to the rank-and-file—deserves nothing but shame for their collective failures. Shame on all of them over the years for turning civil matters into battlegrounds where ordinary Nigerians are abused and exploited.

A Cynical Reality: Will the Current Police Leadership Even Listen?

Let’s face the cynical reality. While the PSC may have issued its directive and Argungu may have championed this cause, I seriously doubt that the current police leadership will even listen. Over the years, the relationship between the Police Service Commission and the high command of the Nigerian Police Force has been riddled with conflicts, disputes, and blatant power struggles. The long-standing fight between the PSC and the police leadership regarding the recruitment of police constables is a prime example of how dysfunctional this relationship has become.

This tug-of-war over who controls recruitment only highlights the disdain that the police leadership has for the PSC’s authority. So why should we believe that the current police leaders will suddenly start listening to their retired colleagues when they’ve been ignoring the PSC for years? This is why I doubt that any real change will come from the PSC’s directive, no matter how well-intentioned it may be. The police high command is more interested in maintaining their corrupt status quo than in following any reforms the PSC suggests.

The Legislature and Judiciary: Time for Action, Not Docility

If the Nigerian Police Force refuses to listen to the PSC, then it’s time for the docile legislature and judiciary to do their jobs. The National Assembly and the courts have been far too passive for far too long, allowing the police to operate with impunity. It is time for lawmakers to enact stringent laws that make it illegal for police officers to meddle in civil matters, with strict penalties for those who violate these laws. Enough of the half-hearted reforms and symbolic gestures—the legislature must take a firm stand.

At the same time, the judiciary must stop turning a blind eye to the police’s abuse of power. Courts need to step up and start holding officers accountable when they overstep their bounds. The rule of law means nothing if the police can flout it without facing consequences. It’s time for the courts to start hearing the cases of police abuse and ruling against officers who act outside their legal authority.

The Need to Reveal Past and Present Abuses

It’s not enough to fix things going forward; we must also address the sins of the past. There is a mountain of unresolved police abuse cases stretching back decades, involving officers who overstepped their bounds, harassed civilians, and enriched themselves through extortion. These abuses cannot remain hidden any longer. Every Nigerian citizen who has suffered at the hands of the police deserves justice.

The government must conduct a full-scale investigation into these abuses, revealing the extent of police misconduct in civil disputes. Those officers—past and present—who have violated the law should be sued, fined, and punished. There must be no statute of limitations for these crimes. Civil lawsuits must be encouraged, and the police must be made to pay restitution to their victims. Let those responsible for decades of abuse face public shame, financial penalties, and criminal sanctions.

PSC’s Directive: Will It Be Followed or Ignored?

When DIG Hasimu Argungu and the Police Service Commission banned officers from interfering in civil disputes, it should have been a moment of triumph—a bold step towards reform. But for many Nigerians, it is difficult to shake the feeling that this is just another hollow declaration, one that will be ignored by officers on the ground and by their superiors. Why? Because we’ve seen it all before.

Argungu talks about transparency, leadership, and discipline, but these are just words unless they are followed by ruthless action. Officers who have used civil matters as a means to line their pockets, intimidate civilians, and trample on their rights must face real consequences—public shaming, demotions, prosecutions. Anything less, and this directive will be just another empty promise in a long line of disappointments.

The Cycle of Corruption: When the Law Becomes a Tool for Oppression

The Nigerian Police Force’s involvement in civil disputes is not just a minor overreach; it is symptomatic of a deeper rot within the system. The police, who should be enforcing the law, have instead become lawbreakers themselves, using their position of power to intimidate and extort the very people they are supposed to protect. It is a vicious cycle: police overstep their bounds, citizens are forced to pay bribes or endure harassment, and the government looks the other way.

This has been the norm for decades. The PSC’s directive could be a turning point—but only if it is enforced with the full weight of the law. Officers who ignore this directive must face severe, public consequences, or we will continue to live in a country where the police operate with impunity, and where citizens cannot trust the very institutions meant to protect them.

A Broken System in Need of Ruthless Reform

Nigeria’s law enforcement institutions have been plagued by corruption, impunity, and lawlessness for far too long. The PSC directive barring police from civil matters is a necessary first step, but it is far from enough. What we need now is ruthless reform—an overhaul of the system from the top down, where no officer, no matter how powerful, is above the law.

Officers who interfere in civil disputes must face public punishment, demotion, and criminal prosecution. There can be no leniency. The legislature and judiciary must step up and do their jobs, holding the police accountable for their actions. And the government must launch a full-scale investigation into past abuses, revealing the full extent of police misconduct.

Only when these steps are taken will we see real change. Only then will the Nigerian people be able to trust their police force once again. U nayeye  too much!

John Egbeazien Oshodi
John Egbeazien Oshodi

Professor John Egbeazien Oshodi, born in Uromi, Edo State, Nigeria, is an American-based police and prison scientist, forensic psychologist, public policy psychologist, and legal psychologist. He’s a government advisor on forensic-clinical psychological services in the USA and the founder of the Dr. John Egbeazien Oshodi Foundation for Psychological Health. With a significant role in introducing forensic psychology to Nigeria through N.U.C. and Nasarawa State University, he’s also a former Secretary-General of the Nigeria Psychological Association. He’s taught at esteemed institutions like Florida Memorial University, Florida International University, Nova Southeastern University, and more, and is currently an online faculty member at Weldios University, Nexus International University, and Walden University.

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