Following reports of overcrowding in some detention facilities, the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has cautioned the rank and file of the force to desist from random arrest of suspects.

While lamenting the strike embarked on by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, the IG has also given a directive that administrative bail should be granted where necessary.

Judiciary workers had last Tuesday embarked on the indefinite nationwide strike in protest against the denial of the judiciary its constitutionally-guaranteed financial autonomy which was also affirmed by a Federal High Court in January 2014.

The strike has prevented the police and other law enforcement agencies from arraigning suspects in courts, which have remained shut since last week.

Consequently, suspects who ordinarily should not spend more than 48 hours in custody are being detained indefinitely.

Speaking with The PUNCH on Monday, the Force Public Relations Officer, CP Frank Mba, said the acting Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, had ordered commissioners of police to ensure that unnecessary arrests were avoided.

Mba, who described the strike as unfortunate, said the IGP ordered that alternative dispute resolution should be explored in certain cases while administrative bail should be given where possible.

He said, “Whenever the court system is paused, the police investigations processes suffer greatly. Our investigation processes also suffer based on the fact that certain orders, authorisations that are supposed to be processed from the court are either delayed or impossible to obtain.

“Consequently, the IG has already issued an internal directive to police commissioners and those heading specialised units to ensure that persons who are qualified to go on bail are granted administrative bail without delay.

“The IG also encouraged officers to explore the use of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to deal with cases that can be resolved using ADR without infringing on any law. He has also given express directive that conscious efforts should be made to decongest cells and avoid making frivolous arrests or arrests that are not very important in the advancement of the course of justice.”