IGP Kayode Egbetokun Issues New Directive On Petition Filings

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has issued a directive aimed at curbing the abuse of petition processes across law enforcement agencies.

According to the new directive, individuals filing petitions at any Police station must refrain from submitting the same petition to sister agencies such as the Department of State Security Services (DSS) or the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The IGP emphasized that filing the same petition with multiple agencies constitutes an abuse of process, a practice many legal practitioners have been found guilty of. Typically, some lawyers submit petitions to the Police and if dissatisfied with the pace of action, file identical petitions with the DSS or EFCC.

In the words of the IGP, “You will be required to sign a declaration form affirming that the petition you are filing with the Police has not been submitted to any other agency”.

This directive is seen by many as a welcome development.