The Political Economy of Police Corruption in Nigeria
The Nigeria Police Force bears the constitutional mandate as the primary policing agency for the protection of life and property within Nigeria; however, the police have an historical ill-reputation for corruption, ineptitude and impunity. Using the institutional theory of police as the framework of analysis, the paper argues that the performance of the police in Nigeria mirrors the dominant political, social and economic institutions and the structural environment of the Nigerian state. The article puts in perspective the deliberate political decision to underfund the police, leaving officers of the force the extra task of foraging for funds to undertake the duty that the Nigeria state primarily exists for; the article further explores the nexus between corruption in the police in Nigeria and the issue of funding. The article finds that the Nigerian state, by deliberately under-funding the police, while expecting the agency to perform its duties, has indirectly sanctioned the corruption of the force and approved the cooption of the institution of police and policing for private use in Nigeria.
[1] Cheri L., 2015, “Corruption and People’s Opinion on the Removal of Police Check-Points in Yobe State”, Global Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences 3(10), 48.
[2] Crank J P. and Langworthy R, 1992 "Institutional Perspective on Policing", Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, Volume 83, 338.
[3] CLEEN Foundation, 2013, “Cleaning the Police”, http://www.transparency.org/gcb2013/country?country=nigeria (accessed on April 20, 2017)
[4] Hall J, 1953 "Police and Law in a Democratic Society," Indiana Law Journal 28(2), 133.
[5] Human Rights Watch, “Everyone’s in on the Game” Corruption and Human Rights Abuses by the Nigeria Police Force" (2010); 3, https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/nigeria0810webwcover.pdf.
[6] Ibidapo-Obe O, 2003 “The Nigeria Police and the Crisis of Law and Order, A Book of Readings”, (Forward” in V. T. Jike, ed.), NISS Publications Lagos, P iii.
[7] Ebegbulem J C, 2012, Corruption and Leadership Crisis in Africa: Nigeria in Focus, International Journal of Business and Social Science Vol. 3 No. 11, 78.
[8] Institute for the Study of Labor and Economic Crisis, The Iron Fist and the Velvet Glove, 1982, 3rd ed. Crime and Social Justice Associates.
[9] IDMC, 2015 “Nigeria IDP Figures Analysis”, accessed on December 4, 2016; http://www.internal-displacement.org/sub-saharan-africa/nigeria/figures-analysis
[10] Ikuomola D., 2011 “Intelligence Information and Policing In Nigeria: Issues And Way Forward”, The Journal of International Social Research 4(17), 480.
[11] Imhonopi D and Ugochukwu M, 2013 Leadership Crisis And Corruption In The Nigerian Public Sector: An Albatross Of National Development, The African Symposium: An online journal of the African Educational Research Network.
[12] Human Rights Watch, 2010 “Everyone’s in on the Game” Corruption and Human Rights Abuses by the Nigeria Police Force, 3.
[13] IDMC, 2015 “Nigeria IDP Figures Analysis”, accessed on December 4, 2016,http://www.internal-displacement.org/sub-saharan-africa/nigeria/figures-analysis
[14] Jacob D., 2015, Security Votes in Nigeria: A Desideratum for Security or Recipe for Corruption, Public Policy and Administration Research, 5(7), 25.
[15] John B., M. Kose, Ohnsorge F., and Stocker M., 2015, "The Great Plunge in Oil Prices: Causes, Consequences, and Policy Responses", World bank Group Research Paper, 4.
[16] Langworthy,R. (1986), The Structure of Police Organizations, Praeger, New York, NY.
[17] Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Police Force Annual Report 2013; 137
[18] Meyer J W. & Rowan B, 1977 Institutionalized Organizations: Formal Structure as Myth and Ceremony, American Journal of Sociology, 83 (340) 348.
[19] Larry K. G and John L. W, 2011, Police Administration, Cengage Learning 3rd Edition, 15-40.
[20] Nọnso, O, 2007, "Law Enforcement in Postcolonial Africa: Interfacing Indigenous and English Policing in Nigeria", IPES Working Paper No 7, 4.
[21] Rotimi K, “Local Police in Western Nigeria: End of an Era” T. N. Tamuno ed, Policing Nigeria: Past, Present and Future, 99, Nigeria Police Force and Malthouse Lagos.
[22] Olujimi A. 2004, “Crime and Policing in Nigeria”, A paper presented at the National Summit on Crime and Policing in Nigeria, organized by the Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in April 13.
[23] Obiamaka E., Ifeoma N., Josaphat O. and Chibuike U., 2010 “Legitimizing corruption in government: Security votes in Nigeria”, African Studies Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands, ASC Working Paper 91/2010, 4.
[24] Okechukwu I, 2007, “Criminal Justice Reforms: Policing Services Delivery” in Access to Justice, Reforming for Justice: A Review of Justice Sector Reforms in Nigeria 1999-2007, 28
[25] Odeh A. and Umoh N., 2015 “State Policing and National Security in Nigeria”, Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences 6, 416
[26] Ogaga A., 2014 “The Nigeria Police Force and The Crisis of Legitimacy: Re-Defining The Structure And Function Of The Nigeria Police”, European Scientific Journal, 10(8), 427
[27] Oyedele T., 2016, "Guess how many Nigerians pay tax and how our government spends the money"; accessed on January 17, 2017, https://www.pwc.com/ng/en/assets/pdf/tax-watch-june-2016.pdf
[28] Olusegun A. and Olukayode L., 2015 “Public Perception of the Police and Crime– Prevention in Nigeria”, British Journal of Education, Society & Behavioral Science 6(2), 146
[29] Obi-Anike H., Ekwe M., and Ogbo A., 2014 "Strategies for Effective Management of Police Services in Nigeria", European Journal of Business and Management, 6 (32) 169
[30] Odekunle, O, 1979, “The Nigeria Police Force: A Preliminary Assessment of Functional Performance”, International Journal of law, No 7, pp. 61-83
[31] Okonkwo C O, 1966, The Police and the Public in Nigeria, London: Sweet and Maxwell, 453
[32] Parry O., 2008 "understanding the mandate and operations of the police service commission in context of the rule of law" A paper presented in August 2008
[33] Osasona T, 2015, "Time to Reform Nigeria’s Criminal Justice System", Journal of Law and Criminal Justice, 3(2) 77
[34] Police Act Cap P. 19 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004
[35] Transparency International, Global Corruption Barometer, Nigeria (2013); http://www.transparency.org/gcb2013/country?country=nigeria
[36] Oshita O. Oshita, Augustine O. Ikelegbe, “An Overview of Theoretical and Practical Issues in Internal Security Management in Nigeria” in Internal Security Management in Nigeria, (2019) 22
[37] Smith D. J., 2007, A Culture of Corruption: Everyday Deception and Popular Discontent in Nigeria, Princeton University Press, 61
[38] Tamuno T, 1970, The Police in Modern Nigeria, 1861–1965; Origins, Development, and Role, Ibadan University Press, 304.
[39] UNODC, 2017, Corruption in Nigeria, Bribery: Public Experience and Response; https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-andanalysis/Crimestatistics/Nigeria/Corruption_Nigeria_2017_07_31_web.pdf
[40] ‘Arase: Why Nigerian Police Cannot Protect All Citizens’, ThisDay Newspaper, 29 April 2016
[41] “Niger Delta militants destroyed 1,447 pipelines in 2016 – NNPC boss, Baru”, Daily Post, July 22, 2016, http://dailypost.ng/2016/07/22/niger-delta-militants-destroyed-1447-pipelines-2016-nnpc-boss-baru/ (accessed on March 14, 2017)
[42] “Nigeria loses N1.1tr to militant attacks”, Daily Trust Newspaper, 29 August 2016
[43] “Nigeria loses $14 billion annually to herdsmen-farmers clashes — Report”, Premium Times, April 15, 2016, http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/201829-nigeria-loses-14-billion-annually-herdsmen-farmers-clashes-report.html (accessed on February 20, 2017)
[44] “Boko Haram insurgency cost North East $9bn – Report”, Vanguard Newspaper April 1, 2016
[45] “Boko Haram kills more people than ISIS as total hits historic high”, RT, https://www.rt.com/news/322529-global-terrorism-index-report/ ( Accessed on November 18, 2016)
[46] “Who should control the police: The President or governors?”, Punch Newspaper, 14 December 2016
[47] Nigeria Police Watch 2009, Crime Data, sourced from: http://www.nigeriapolicewatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/20091.pdf -
[48] “Police get 548 cars from 9 states”, Daily Trust newspaper, March 3, 2017
[49] “Nigeria Police to be funded by states if …” The Vanguard Newspaper, April 23, 2017
[50] “Nigeria Police now a political party – Wike”, The Vanguard Newspaper, March 18, 2017
[51] “Reps express concern over N18bn police budget”, Today, February 10, 2016,https://www.today.ng/news/nigeria/77964/reps-express-concern-over-n18bn-police-budget (accessed on April 11, 2017)
[52] “Buhari Orders Police to End Wanton Killings Now”, Thisday Newspaper, March 25, 2017
[53] “Jonathan Orders Police to Find Governor’s Aide Killers”, P.M News, May 7, 2012
[54] “EXCLUSIVE: Inside Nigeria Police shocking work conditions where officers are left homeless, paid peanuts”, Premium Times, April 21, 2014, http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/159124-exclusive-inside-nigeria-police-shocking-work-conditions-officers-left-homeless-paid-peanuts.html (accessed on April 15, 2017)
[55] “Nigeria Police: A force surviving on donations”, Punch Newspaper, 13 February 2016
[56] “ODITA: Underfunding Is Killing Nigeria Police”, The Guardian Newspaper, 05 December 2015
[57] Global Pace Index, Institute for economics and Peace, 2014
[1] Cheri L., 2015, “Corruption and People’s Opinion on the Removal of Police Check-Points in Yobe State”, Global Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences 3(10), 48.
[2] Crank J P. and Langworthy R, 1992 "Institutional Perspective on Policing", Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, Volume 83, 338.
[3] CLEEN Foundation, 2013, “Cleaning the Police”, http://www.transparency.org/gcb2013/country?country=nigeria (accessed on April 20, 2017)
[4] Hall J, 1953 "Police and Law in a Democratic Society," Indiana Law Journal 28(2), 133.
[5] Human Rights Watch, “Everyone’s in on the Game” Corruption and Human Rights Abuses by the Nigeria Police Force" (2010); 3, https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/nigeria0810webwcover.pdf.
[6] Ibidapo-Obe O, 2003 “The Nigeria Police and the Crisis of Law and Order, A Book of Readings”, (Forward” in V. T. Jike, ed.), NISS Publications Lagos, P iii.
[7] Ebegbulem J C, 2012, Corruption and Leadership Crisis in Africa: Nigeria in Focus, International Journal of Business and Social Science Vol. 3 No. 11, 78.
[8] Institute for the Study of Labor and Economic Crisis, The Iron Fist and the Velvet Glove, 1982, 3rd ed. Crime and Social Justice Associates.
[9] IDMC, 2015 “Nigeria IDP Figures Analysis”, accessed on December 4, 2016; http://www.internal-displacement.org/sub-saharan-africa/nigeria/figures-analysis
[10] Ikuomola D., 2011 “Intelligence Information and Policing In Nigeria: Issues And Way Forward”, The Journal of International Social Research 4(17), 480.
[11] Imhonopi D and Ugochukwu M, 2013 Leadership Crisis And Corruption In The Nigerian Public Sector: An Albatross Of National Development, The African Symposium: An online journal of the African Educational Research Network.
[12] Human Rights Watch, 2010 “Everyone’s in on the Game” Corruption and Human Rights Abuses by the Nigeria Police Force, 3.
[13] IDMC, 2015 “Nigeria IDP Figures Analysis”, accessed on December 4, 2016,http://www.internal-displacement.org/sub-saharan-africa/nigeria/figures-analysis
[14] Jacob D., 2015, Security Votes in Nigeria: A Desideratum for Security or Recipe for Corruption, Public Policy and Administration Research, 5(7), 25.
[15] John B., M. Kose, Ohnsorge F., and Stocker M., 2015, "The Great Plunge in Oil Prices: Causes, Consequences, and Policy Responses", World bank Group Research Paper, 4.
[16] Langworthy,R. (1986), The Structure of Police Organizations, Praeger, New York, NY.
[17] Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Police Force Annual Report 2013; 137
[18] Meyer J W. & Rowan B, 1977 Institutionalized Organizations: Formal Structure as Myth and Ceremony, American Journal of Sociology, 83 (340) 348.
[19] Larry K. G and John L. W, 2011, Police Administration, Cengage Learning 3rd Edition, 15-40.
[20] Nọnso, O, 2007, "Law Enforcement in Postcolonial Africa: Interfacing Indigenous and English Policing in Nigeria", IPES Working Paper No 7, 4.
[21] Rotimi K, “Local Police in Western Nigeria: End of an Era” T. N. Tamuno ed, Policing Nigeria: Past, Present and Future, 99, Nigeria Police Force and Malthouse Lagos.
[22] Olujimi A. 2004, “Crime and Policing in Nigeria”, A paper presented at the National Summit on Crime and Policing in Nigeria, organized by the Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in April 13.
[23] Obiamaka E., Ifeoma N., Josaphat O. and Chibuike U., 2010 “Legitimizing corruption in government: Security votes in Nigeria”, African Studies Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands, ASC Working Paper 91/2010, 4.
[24] Okechukwu I, 2007, “Criminal Justice Reforms: Policing Services Delivery” in Access to Justice, Reforming for Justice: A Review of Justice Sector Reforms in Nigeria 1999-2007, 28
[25] Odeh A. and Umoh N., 2015 “State Policing and National Security in Nigeria”, Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences 6, 416
[26] Ogaga A., 2014 “The Nigeria Police Force and The Crisis of Legitimacy: Re-Defining The Structure And Function Of The Nigeria Police”, European Scientific Journal, 10(8), 427
[27] Oyedele T., 2016, "Guess how many Nigerians pay tax and how our government spends the money"; accessed on January 17, 2017, https://www.pwc.com/ng/en/assets/pdf/tax-watch-june-2016.pdf
[28] Olusegun A. and Olukayode L., 2015 “Public Perception of the Police and Crime– Prevention in Nigeria”, British Journal of Education, Society & Behavioral Science 6(2), 146
[29] Obi-Anike H., Ekwe M., and Ogbo A., 2014 "Strategies for Effective Management of Police Services in Nigeria", European Journal of Business and Management, 6 (32) 169
[30] Odekunle, O, 1979, “The Nigeria Police Force: A Preliminary Assessment of Functional Performance”, International Journal of law, No 7, pp. 61-83
[31] Okonkwo C O, 1966, The Police and the Public in Nigeria, London: Sweet and Maxwell, 453
[32] Parry O., 2008 "understanding the mandate and operations of the police service commission in context of the rule of law" A paper presented in August 2008
[33] Osasona T, 2015, "Time to Reform Nigeria’s Criminal Justice System", Journal of Law and Criminal Justice, 3(2) 77
[34] Police Act Cap P. 19 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004
[35] Transparency International, Global Corruption Barometer, Nigeria (2013); http://www.transparency.org/gcb2013/country?country=nigeria
[36] Oshita O. Oshita, Augustine O. Ikelegbe, “An Overview of Theoretical and Practical Issues in Internal Security Management in Nigeria” in Internal Security Management in Nigeria, (2019) 22
[37] Smith D. J., 2007, A Culture of Corruption: Everyday Deception and Popular Discontent in Nigeria, Princeton University Press, 61
[38] Tamuno T, 1970, The Police in Modern Nigeria, 1861–1965; Origins, Development, and Role, Ibadan University Press, 304.
[39] UNODC, 2017, Corruption in Nigeria, Bribery: Public Experience and Response; https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-andanalysis/Crimestatistics/Nigeria/Corruption_Nigeria_2017_07_31_web.pdf
[40] ‘Arase: Why Nigerian Police Cannot Protect All Citizens’, ThisDay Newspaper, 29 April 2016
[41] “Niger Delta militants destroyed 1,447 pipelines in 2016 – NNPC boss, Baru”, Daily Post, July 22, 2016, http://dailypost.ng/2016/07/22/niger-delta-militants-destroyed-1447-pipelines-2016-nnpc-boss-baru/ (accessed on March 14, 2017)
[42] “Nigeria loses N1.1tr to militant attacks”, Daily Trust Newspaper, 29 August 2016
[43] “Nigeria loses $14 billion annually to herdsmen-farmers clashes — Report”, Premium Times, April 15, 2016, http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/201829-nigeria-loses-14-billion-annually-herdsmen-farmers-clashes-report.html (accessed on February 20, 2017)
[44] “Boko Haram insurgency cost North East $9bn – Report”, Vanguard Newspaper April 1, 2016
[45] “Boko Haram kills more people than ISIS as total hits historic high”, RT, https://www.rt.com/news/322529-global-terrorism-index-report/ ( Accessed on November 18, 2016)
[46] “Who should control the police: The President or governors?”, Punch Newspaper, 14 December 2016
[47] Nigeria Police Watch 2009, Crime Data, sourced from: http://www.nigeriapolicewatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/20091.pdf -
[48] “Police get 548 cars from 9 states”, Daily Trust newspaper, March 3, 2017
[49] “Nigeria Police to be funded by states if …” The Vanguard Newspaper, April 23, 2017
[50] “Nigeria Police now a political party – Wike”, The Vanguard Newspaper, March 18, 2017
[51] “Reps express concern over N18bn police budget”, Today, February 10, 2016,https://www.today.ng/news/nigeria/77964/reps-express-concern-over-n18bn-police-budget (accessed on April 11, 2017)
[52] “Buhari Orders Police to End Wanton Killings Now”, Thisday Newspaper, March 25, 2017
[53] “Jonathan Orders Police to Find Governor’s Aide Killers”, P.M News, May 7, 2012
[54] “EXCLUSIVE: Inside Nigeria Police shocking work conditions where officers are left homeless, paid peanuts”, Premium Times, April 21, 2014, http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/159124-exclusive-inside-nigeria-police-shocking-work-conditions-officers-left-homeless-paid-peanuts.html (accessed on April 15, 2017)
[55] “Nigeria Police: A force surviving on donations”, Punch Newspaper, 13 February 2016
[56] “ODITA: Underfunding Is Killing Nigeria Police”, The Guardian Newspaper, 05 December 2015
[57] Global Pace Index, Institute for economics and Peace, 2014
@article{"International Journal of Business, Human and Social Sciences:79774", author = "Tosin Osasona", title = "The Political Economy of Police Corruption in Nigeria", abstract = "The Nigeria Police Force bears the constitutional mandate as the primary policing agency for the protection of life and property within Nigeria; however, the police have an historical ill-reputation for corruption, ineptitude and impunity. Using the institutional theory of police as the framework of analysis, the paper argues that the performance of the police in Nigeria mirrors the dominant political, social and economic institutions and the structural environment of the Nigerian state. The article puts in perspective the deliberate political decision to underfund the police, leaving officers of the force the extra task of foraging for funds to undertake the duty that the Nigeria state primarily exists for; the article further explores the nexus between corruption in the police in Nigeria and the issue of funding. The article finds that the Nigerian state, by deliberately under-funding the police, while expecting the agency to perform its duties, has indirectly sanctioned the corruption of the force and approved the cooption of the institution of police and policing for private use in Nigeria.
", keywords = "Funding, policing, Nigeria Police Force, corruption.", volume = "14", number = "8", pages = "649-6", }
