Appropriate investigation is at the core of dispensation of justice. Worldwide, the police play key roles in the investigation of crimes, and they maintain close working relationship with forensic pathologists in death investigation. Police forensic laboratories are generally of the highest standard and quality of delivery. In a normal setting, it'll be shocking and will provoke an outrage for the police to appear before the court and announce that vital pieces of evidence, handed over to the them (by reason of statute and in public trust) for processing in a police forensic laboratory in Nigeria "got bad due to epileptic power supply". The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in charge of forensics at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, Ovie Oyokomino, was reported to have declared while testifying before the court, "that the perishable evidence such as blood samples as well as the vitreous humor of the eye went bad due to interrupted power supply in the course of refrigerating".This report is carried in ThisDay Newspaper of 30 April, 2013.
This was in the course high profile Williams Murder case hearing.
In a country where some accountability counts, and where citizens are less encumbered with elements of "survival" and complacency, it will not require much discerning to apprise the danger posed to our collective safety and national security by such apparent acts of irresponsibility, gross disappointment and betrayal of trust conveyed by that statement credited to the police. Some may be aware of the gallant display of the US security apparatus after the recent Boston bombing and yet it has not deterred US lawmakers asking if the FBI mishandled case of late Boston suspect when he came under the radar in the past. That is what happens where there is accountability and sense of responsibility across board. In Nigeria, what traction will such "triviality" have on the national discuss and concern?. In fact it is understandable why the "perishable evidence" should perish with the epileptic power supply. Our lawmakers will probably be too busy with "weightier" issues of the law than pay attention to such a "minor" indicator of a system failure in our crime investigation.
However, before the matter dies with the lifespan of 30 April 2013 publication, the public may want to consider the following:
1. How much is budgeted annually for the police forensic laboratory in Nigeria?
2. How is this amount utilized since the forensic laboratory is not known to be functional?
3. Was it only the evidence in Williams case that "got bad" or were there other stored "exhibits" that perished with the Williams case? At least we can ask citing our Freedom of Information Act.
4. How does this anomaly impact the justice system in Williams murder case and similar cases?
5. Who will be held accountable for this situation that appears like some gross negligence?
6. What is the current state of the police forensic laboratory?
7. With the high volume of medico-legal cases in Nigeria and the attendant impact on national security, why has the nation not invested in modern forensics like the establishment of a National Institute of Forensic Medicine & Science (NIFMS) which will be a clearing house for modern death investigation procedures, and forensic investigation of related crimes, training of various forensic medicine and science personnel, and providing independent forensic services to Coroners from various states of the federation, to the police and other concerned agencies in forensic investigations? Presently, we spend so much money sending samples outside the country for DNA analyses and other forensic tests. The loss is in many fronts including loss of foreign exchange, loss of opportunity to train and deepen the experience of local forensic practitioners, and concerns about results that are based on statistics which may not be reflective of the profile of our local population.
The NIFMS, if established, will have the potential to become a centre of excellence for forensics in the West African sub-region and will fill the critical gap that has characterized unresolved murder cases and tardy justice system in the country.
We have the human capacity to actualize the NIFMS if government will be willing and ready to make the necessary investments, and to be guided by professional advice, and not political patronage.
It's time we got serious with nation building in all fronts, and a mockery of expertise is not a good tag for any foundation or building blocks.
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