Afam Nnaji - Articles

Still on police, bribery and willingness to pay

Posted by Afam on September 8, 2009, 10:49 am

Viewed 37 times

Many Nigerians don't know their rights and majority of those that even know their rights are not ready to enforce them.

This piece is based on an ongoing discussion on a public forum.

Comments made by others will be reproduced thus

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the comments
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Ok, here we go, the first post by a Nigerian

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HELLO NIGERIANS.
I AM HERE TO SHARE MY TRUE LIFE STORY WITH EVERYBODY AND PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO CONTRIBUTE YOUR OWN QUOTA.

WHERE ARE WE GOING IN THIS COUNTRY?
CORRUPTION EVERY WHERE FROM LEADERS, POLICES, EXECUTIVES, BANKERS, ETC

MY STORY.

I am a computer Engineer, resides in Egbeda, Lagos.
I was working in my office on wednesday 3, sept, 2009. then a customer called me to install some softwares into her system and i was going to her house, then suddenly I was blocked on my way by POLICE. They said:

POLICE: wait,

POLICE: what's inside your bag?

ME: laptop, i am a computer engineer

POLICE: where is your Id card?

ME: i show them my ID card and my complimentary card

POLICE: bring your laptop, lets check something inside

ME: I gave them the laptop

POLICE: enter inside the motor, we are going to station together

ME: ahh, i think i've show you my Id card

POLICE: I say, get inside

ME: i enter inside the motor and we are proceeding to station, then I called my brother to informed him what is going on. When we got to station they said i should on the system, which i put it on

POLICE: come here, what are you doing with this laptop?

ME: I told you i am an engineer and i design website for people

They searched all the files inside the system and they even collected my phone and also searched my messages may be I am into illegal activities. Even with all the proved that i am an engineer and they (POLICE) said i should bail myself with #10,000. I didn't commit any crimed,
If i failed to cooperate their are going to locked me inside the cell.

ME: my brother and I started pleaded for #2,000. which they later collected.

POLICE: you should be thanking God that we know your brother. if not, you we paid #10,000. we are always out to arrest those carry laptop about.

IS IT A CRIME TO HAVE A LAPTOP IN NIGERIA? OR WHAT?

we are shouting in Nigeria that the unemployment in the country is over 50%. Then, Nigerians are leveraging on computer, either computer engineer, web design, computer typing, graphics design etc.
We are busy doing one thing or the other.

Please, Nigerians what should i do to get my money back?

Thank you very much for reading my story and I want you to learn from me. I don't know how many people who must have be a victim of this money extortion by POLICE from innocent Nigerians.
We don't have leaders, police in this country.
BUT, i believe Almighty God we send an angel that'll change the whole country and move it to next level.

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Nigerians all over the world are celebrating late Gani Fawehinmi. Do you think they are doing so because he kept negotiating for his freedom?

I drive myself, I use okada and sometimes with my laptop and I see these same policemen on the road.

People should stop this nonsense excuse about arguing with them and the risk of being shot or locked up.

Don't you know that the police will naturally take advantage of your fears. Tell them you are not afraid of being locked up and that you know your rights and that you are ready to defend that right even if it means dying for it and more importantly make it known to them that you will not be giving them any money for anything because you have not done anything wrong.

Personally the reason why Nigeria is the way it is right now is because people are not bold enough to insist on doing the right things at all times regardless of the inconveniences or problems they may face in the process.

Each time I read or hear any of these excuses I pity Nigeria and Nigerians the more.

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Tell them, those who think yielding to police threat is their last option to get away from their selfish intimidation,
Police are there to enforce the law and not to intimidate or threaten us with the law.
You guyz should get that into your head, thats another means we can get rid of the corruption in the government. When you as a citizen refuses to yield into their corrupt demands irrespective of the consequencies,
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Quote from: bilms on Yesterday at 10:35:08 AM
i laugh when i see people post,

y because do u think nigerian will ever change by insisting on not givning the police standing by d road side 20 naira? , many people hgave been forgotten in prison because they fail to pay just 2000 naira, d so called DPO is even worse,
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The laughter is understandable because in your opinion all we all need to do to stop corruption in the police force is to dress in suits all the time instead of defending your rights.

About people who have been forgotten in prison because they failed to pay N2,000.00 may I also remind you that some have even lost their lives without having anything to do with the police.

Offer bribes or put on suits even when the sun is shining like mad if you want to but do not attempt to justify any bribes offered because it will be like an armed robber trying to justify his robberies.

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You are an enlightened Brother, and thanks for speaking out. Not only have I been arrested by these criminals in uniform, but one has put a pistol to my head threatening to shoot me and bragging about how many innocent people he had killed in the past. I stood my grounds and told him people only die once. In Surulere, I have refused to give any Police anything from demand, but sometimes at night, I would stop at their checkpoint and chat with them (not by demand) and then dash them something while encouraging them with about their work. Some of them may even think that I work with SSS or something because of my lack of fear. 3 different times, I may have been killed by wayward Policemen, included one that uncocked his rifle and threatened me while I stepped in to his face and commanded him to "back down". He called me a "crase man" who dey argue with man wey carry gun (This was the commandant of the group who had been stoned silly). Honestly, I believe that they will have pulled the trigger if I had shown any kind of fear, instead my bravado made them decide that I must have been a Military Boss.

Nigerians are so afraid of dying but are dying unfairly everyday. When will people understand that life is not worth living if there is nothing to die for? As long as you are not a criminal, you should not have the need to feel intimidated by any Police man. They are actually violating United Nations laws which Nigeria is a signatory to, by their illegal stop and search routines. People should constantly remind them of this and stand for their rights. Cowards however, always die useless deaths.
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I still believe the right man that is capable of driving this country forward will emerge one day.

From the top leader to the last gate man is corrupt. But we should be thinking of how to solve this POLICE problem in this country for the sake of our up coming generation.
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1. I am not corrupt and I am a Nigerian so it is not every Nigerian that is corrupt. You need to change such defeatist mindset.

2. That right man could be you. Don't run away from your rights and expect another person to fight your fight.

3. If you do your part and I do my part as regards offering or giving bribes to policemen trust me a day will come when policemen will resign and those on illegal road blocks will look for other jobs as no one is ready to give them bribes.

Will change come easy? I don't think so.

Is change possible? Yes

Can Nigerians do this? Yes, if there is a will there will definitely be a way.

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i like your faith in nigeria but truth is that nigeria is a corrupt nation. all most everyone is corrupt. will take bribes and dont see anything wrong in it.
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I agree a lot of people are corrupt but certainly not everyone.

It is all about integrity and credibility and in all honesty these things are not common with Nigerians.

I try to maintain a sane environment around me regardless of what is happening around me by insisting on the right thing all the time regardless of the consequences. Not an easy way of life anyway but worth living if you must not become like the average Nigerian that does not see anything wrong with 419, murder, bribes, other vices etc.

The discussion seems to be an unending one so if you would like to follow this then see http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-319730.0.html

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Still on police, bribery and willingness to pay

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