Officers demanding money for bail are on their own - Police

The Federal Capital Territory, Abuja Police Command has reemphasized that bail is free.

The FCT Commissioner of Police, Mr Wilson Inalegwu speaking at a forum organized by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Abuja chapter on Saturday, warned that any officer caught demanding money before granting bail to a detainee would be sanctioned.

“Any officer who asks for money for bail does that at his or her own risk,’’ he said.

Inalegwu said that the command was concerned with the conduct of its men and would sanction any of its men found to be indulging in professional misconduct.

“No matter the situation we find ourselves, we must remain professional in carrying out our duty.

“We will not hide any of our men that is highhanded in dealing with the public from being sanctioned.

“We are very concerned about the conduct of our officers,’’ he said.

He assured that the command  has no laws aimed at confronting journalists performing their legitimate duties.

“We don’t have any deliberate policy to harass journalists in the territory or elsewhere.

“For the society to develop, we must report issues as they come,’’ he said.

Inalegwu also called for collaboration between the police and journalists to stop mutual suspicion, noting that the media had enhanced operations of the command on several occasions.