Former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, shared his views on the potential risks associated with enacting a law that would allow Nigerians to apply for private investigation licenses. He cautioned that such a law could lead to extortion, blackmail, and unnecessary rivalry, making it difficult to control. Oshiomhole pointed out that investigative responsibilities are already vested in institutions like the police, DSS, EFCC, and ICPC, which are charged with maintaining law and order.
He recalled a previous instance where private investigators were set up and later targeted individuals and agencies, leading to cases of blackmail. The situation escalated to the point where the federal government had to intervene and disband the group, highlighting the complexities and risks of granting such investigative powers to private individuals.
He said in a live coverage by Symfoni from 7:05, “For this Senate to enact a law that will give a Nigerian to apply for a license and to be so licensed such that he can carry out investigation on anyone it will just be a license for extortion, a license for blackmail, an unnecessary rivalry, and it will not be controllable. I think that if there was to be a need—and I need to be persuaded that that need exists—to have private investigation, which is currently vested in about three institutions: the police, SIB within the police, DSS, and of course EFCC, all of these are charged explicitly including ICPC.
I remember one particular gentleman who was set up along with others to carry out investigations and in the end, targeted individuals and agencies more or less for blackmail, and in the end, the federal government was so embarrassed that they had to be disbanded.”