January 19, 2015 – Police formations in Lagos State have been equipped with Information Communication Technology (ICT) as part of effort to free the stations of vehicles detained for the purpose of using them as exhibits in the court.
Speaking at the occasion to flag-off the Ogudu Police Command on Monday morning, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola said the idea of providing the ICT centres has always being in the works adding that the new Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kayode Aderanti was lucky enough to be the one to inherit the project.
This development, he explained underscores the importance of continuity. He explained that the ICT centres are provided for each of the formations such that photographs of vehicles involved in accidents can be captured and documented in the system while the vehicle will be released to the owner based on agreement that it will be produced when needed.
He said the scheme will make the idea of keeping vehicles involved in accidents for a long time in police stations a thing of the past.
The governor who had earlier on provided digital cameras to police formations said that ICT will also make it possible for policemen to document evidence on tape which can be tendered in the court to prevent situations where cases are turned down for lack of evidence.
He governor said the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Suleiman Abba has given approval to a proposal that would allow policemen to take finger print, facial photographs, height measurements and other evidence needed that would aide successful arrest and prosecution of criminals.
The governor said that there are plans to provide squad cars with required gadgets for policemen in the state adding that they are currently being designed in Japan.
Earlier, Commissioner of Police, Mr. Aderanti said that before now, exhibit vehicles litter police formations and thanked the governor for the effort.
He called on the governor to go a step further to ensure that information documented in the system include the name of the judge handling a particular case, the IPO, and every other thing required for successful apprehension and prosecution of criminal so that the information will become readily available at the press of the button.
