The Nigeria Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) has given Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun a seven-day ultimatum to revoke the directive requiring vehicle owners to register and obtain a Central Motor Information System Certificate, which costs a minimum of N6,000. NBA-SPIDEL questioned the legal authority of the Nigeria Police Force to issue the CMRIS Certificates, stating that no law grants the police such powers following vehicle registration at designated offices.
NBA-SPIDEL has demanded an immediate halt to the issuance and enforcement of the CMRIS Certificates, urging the Inspector General of Police to issue a nationwide directive to stop the practice. The association also called for the shutdown of the registration website and physical registration centers, with refunds to be made to those who had already paid.
In a letter addressed to the Inspector General of Police, co-signed by NBA-SPIDEL Chairman John Aikpokpo-Martins and Secretary Funmi Adeogun, the association stated, “Any such certificate being issued by the Nigeria Police Force without legal backing is outright illegal, null, and void, and therefore of no consequence.” The letter emphasized that the police’s duty to protect citizens and enforce the law does not include collecting money or issuing certificates to vehicle owners.
The association condemned the exploitation of Nigerians’ ignorance, which leads to extortion during road checks. The letter warned, “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.”
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has ordered the enforcement of the digitalized Central Motor Registry (e-CMR) by July 29, 2024, aiming to modernize the motor vehicle registration system and enhance the nation’s safety and security framework. According to the police, the e-CMR is an advanced, real-time online repository of motor vehicle data, designed to support police investigations, operations, and combat vehicle-related crimes such as terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and armed robbery.
In a statement on Saturday, Force spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi said that under the IGP’s directives, the e-CMR system will streamline services like change of ownership, license number, engine, and chassis/body, ensuring vehicle authenticity and aiding in the tracking and recovery of stolen vehicles, thereby preventing their sale to unsuspecting buyers. The statement read, “As part of the efforts of the IG to enhance the security of lives and property, the Nigeria Police Force is set to commence the enforcement of the digitalized Central Motor Registry (e-CMR) within the next 14 days, specifically on July 29, 2024, to rejuvenate and digitalize the motor vehicle registration system, significantly bolstering our nation’s safety and security framework.
“Following the directives of the IGP, services such as change of ownership, change of license number, change of engine, and change of chassis/body would become seamless as the e-CMR system would ensure the validation of vehicle genuineness and ownership, enhancing the ability to track and recover stolen vehicles effectively, and preventing the purchase of stolen vehicles by innocent buyers.”