The Anambra State Police Command has defended its officers following a confrontation involving police personnel and court bailiffs in Awka, insisting that the incident should be thoroughly investigated before conclusions are drawn about the conduct of those involved.
The Command expressed concern over what it described as the premature portrayal of the incident as an attack on the judiciary, arguing that such conclusions could undermine fairness and disregard the circumstances that led to the confrontation.
While acknowledging the importance of respecting the authority of the judiciary and enforcing lawful court orders, the police stressed that all parties, including court bailiffs and law enforcement officers, must be held to the same standards of professionalism, accountability and restraint.
According to the Command, it would be unfair to condemn the police without first establishing the facts surrounding the incident and examining the actions of everyone involved.
The police raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the bailiffs’ operation, particularly the reported absence of police officers during the enforcement exercise and the manner in which the operation was carried out.
The Command also questioned the alleged breaking of hotel doors and the removal of guests’ belongings from the premises, noting that such actions required proper examination.
It further expressed concern over the reported use of a tinted Sienna bus by the bailiffs, claiming that four men alighted from the vehicle in circumstances it considered suspicious.
The police explained that their intervention followed the development of a disorderly situation at the scene, adding that their actions should be assessed in the context of the events that preceded their arrival.
The Command maintained that a video recording of the confrontation, particularly if it captures only part of the incident, should not serve as the sole basis for determining culpability or demanding disciplinary action against the officers.
It emphasised that respect for the judiciary should not prevent scrutiny of the conduct of its personnel, just as respect for the police should not exempt officers from accountability where wrongdoing is established.
The Command therefore called for an impartial investigation to determine the facts, identify any misconduct and ensure that anyone found culpable faces appropriate consequences in accordance with the law.
It added that the rule of law could only be strengthened through fairness, credible evidence, due process and equal accountability, rather than public condemnation based on incomplete information.
The police concluded that the circumstances surrounding the confrontation must be fully established before judgments are made against any of the parties involved.
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