The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has written to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, asking him to immediately withdraw his order on the enforcement of the electronic-Central Motor Registry Information System (CMRIS) Certificate, saying that it is illegal.
In a letter to the police boss, the Chairman and Secretary of the NBA’s Section on Public Interest, John Aikpokpo-Martins and Funmi Adeogun respectively, stressed that there is no law in Nigeria that empowers police to issue any kind of vehicle certificates to motorists.
They made it clear that any such certificate being issued by the Nigeria Police Force without any legal backing “is outright illegal, null, and void and therefore of no consequence.”
The lawyers said the duty of the Nigeria Police in protecting the citizens and enforcing the law “does not extend to collecting monies and/or issuing certificates to vehicle owners.”
The enforcement of the digitalised Central Motor Registry is to start on July 29, 2024.
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, gave the order on Saturday, saying it is modernise and digitise the motor vehicle registration system, bolstering the nation’s safety and security framework.
Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, said with the IGP’s order, the e-CMR system will make services like change of ownership, license number, engine, and chassis/body seamless, ensuring vehicle genuineness, aiding in tracking and recovery of stolen vehicles, and preventing the sale of stolen vehicles to innocent buyers.
“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 the 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.”
The e-CMR is an advanced, real-time online repository of motor vehicle data, designed to support police investigations, and operational activities, and combat vehicle-related crimes, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and armed robbery.
The transition to a digitalised system, according to the police, will streamline the documentation and verification processes for vehicle ownership and related transactions.
