By Abiola Olawale
The Nigerian Bar Association’s Section on Public Interest has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Inspector General of Police(IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, to immediately withdraw a directive for the commencement of the digitalised Central Motor Registry (e-CMR)
The association also threatened legal action against the IGP should he fail to reverse his directive regarding vehicle registration after the seven-day ultimatum.
The New Diplomat reports that the latest directive from the Nigerian Police Force requires vehicle owners across the country to register and obtain a Central Motor Information System Certificate at a cost not less than N6,000.
Reacting, the NBA-SPIDEL Chairman John Aikpokpo-Martins and Secretary Funmi Adeogun of the NBA Section on Public Interest, in a letter directed to the Inspector General of Police, questioned the legal basis for the Nigeria Police Force’s issuance of the CMRIS Certificates.
They stated that no law had granted the police the authority to issue such licences or certificates to vehicle owners after the normal vehicle registration at the appropriate offices.
The letter reads in part: “Any such certificate being issued by the Nigeria Police Force without legal backing is outright illegal, null, and void, and therefore of no consequence.
“Failure, neglect, or refusal to comply with this lawful demand within seven days of receipt of this letter will compel NBA-SPIDEL to seek appropriate sanctions in court against your esteemed office and the Nigeria Police Force.”
It would be recalled that on Saturday the police announced that it would commence the enforcement of the digitalised Central Motor Registry (e-CMR) on July 29, 2024, to combat crimes associated with vehicles, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and armed robbery.
The police in a release on Saturday noted that the system would digitise the motor vehicle registration system, significantly bolstering the country’s safety and security framework.
The police described e-CMR as an advanced, real-time online repository of motor vehicle data designed to support police investigations, and operational activities, and combat vehicle-related crimes, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and armed robbery.
