Firm threatens suit against police. BCMRSystem levy was changed from 500 to 3500 naira for motorists.

Can anyone suit the Nigerian Police and win. Well Punch Newspaper has this to say about the Police Biometric Central Motor Registry System, just introduced. I think for now its voluntary. Am sure that would change soon.

A private firm has threatened to sue the Nigeria police over the use of its template for the Police Biometric Central Motor Registry System.

The firm, 2TOC Solutions Limited, said it had developed the system and was to work in association with the police but that the Force at a point developed cold feet only to hand over the system the firm had developed to their CMR department and charged motorists N3,500 for the same registration the firm had proposed N500 levy.

“The project was about taking-off in late 2011 when the police suddenly developed cold feet and the next thing they did was to announce the BCMR using the exact template and ideas in the original proposal approved by the former IG, Abubakar Ringim. We won’t take it lying low, we intend to take legal action against them,” an official of the firm who asked not to be named said.

Investigations by our correspondent showed that 2TOC Solutions Limited in 2011 had sought the approval of the JTB for the biometric system which it tagged ‘Police Road Crime Control System’ and requested for approval of N500 levy on vehicle owners for registration, but the board turned down the request.

But the Nigeria Police Force had on September 9, 2013 announced the commencement of the BCMR at a cost of N3, 500, a 600 per cent increase on the amount proposed by 2TOC Solutions Ltd.

Findings showed that the firm had received the approval of Ringim and signed a Memorandum of Understanding in January 2011 with the police to build a national security vehicle ownership database.

The company then wrote a letter to the JTB seeking its approval for the N500 levy on the public for vehicle form, computation and equipment acquisition.

But the JTB in a letter to the firm dated December 15, 2011 signed by its secretary, M.L Abubakar, said that after exhaustive deliberation at its 125th meeting, the board resolved not to grant approval for imposition of the N500 levy on motorists.

“The board resolved not to grant the approval (for N500 charge) on the ground that it will be an additional burden to motorists. The Nigeria Police should finance and own the project since the project is laudable and will enhance national security,” the board stated.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, on Sunday said that N5000 was the proposed charge for the BCMR when it was launched in 2011, adding that the levy was reduced to N3, 500 by the current police administration due to improved and cheaper technology.

“If the company has a good case, it should approach the police authorities or go to Industrial Arbitration Panel. This is a national security matter and it should not be discussed on the pages of newspapers. I expect 2TOC Limited to invoke the clause in the MoU it claimed to have signed with the police,” he stated