Police suspend enforcement of e-CMR, warn officers against extortion

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has suspended the enforcement of the digitalised central motor registry (e-CMR) indefinitely. 

In a statement on Sunday, Muyiwa Adejobi, force spokesperson, said the suspension will enable “mass enlightenment and education” of Nigerians on the initiative.

Adejobi said the e-CMR scheme is not a “revenue-generating platform but an initiative to digitise policing for effectiveness and general safety” of Nigerians.

He added that Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police, has urged police officers not to extort the public in the name of e-CMR certificates.

“The inspector-general of police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has ordered an immediate suspension of the proposed enforcement of the e-CMR initially scheduled to commence on the 29th of July, 2024,” the statement reads.

“This is to give ample benefits and effectiveness in solving the challenge of vehicle related crimes, and protection of individual and corporate vehicle ownership.

“In the same vein, the IGP charges all police officers to desist from requesting for e-CMR certificates as individuals found extorting or exploiting members of the public on the guise of not having e-CMR certificates will be sanctioned accordingly as the enforcement which will be done by only dedicated officers has been suspended till further notice.”

THE CONTROVERSY 

On Saturday, the NPF said it will commence the enforcement of the e-CMR by July 29.

Adejobi had said the e-CMR is a real-time online archive of vehicle data designed to support police investigations and combat vehicle-related crimes.

Responding to the development, the Nigerian Bar Association — Section of Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL), asked the police to stop the issuance of e-CMR certificates and refund all monies to vehicle owners.

The NBA-SPIDEL threatened to initiate legal action if the police failed to act accordingly within seven days.

The statement was signed by John Aikpokpo-Martin, chairman of NBA-SPIDEL, and Funmi Adeogun, its secretary.

In its response to the statement, Adejobi said the police have the right to initiate any approach aimed at curbing crime in the country.

Reacting to the statement, Akorede Lawal, spokesperson of the NBA national leadership, said Aikpokpo-Martins and Adeogun did not seek the consent of the association before writing to the police.

Lawal also said the duo have been removed as executives of NBA-SPIDEL since February 2024.