ABSTRACT

The issue of corporate corruption has been a major bone of contention in Nigeria Police Force. This research work examines corrupt practices and activities among the Nigeria police and the overall effects of corporate corruption on how the outfit carries out its mandatory responsibilities in the society. Particular concern was shown on the effect of corporate corruption on maintenance of law and order by the police, the factors responsible for corporate corruption practices and activities among the Nigeria police personnel in Nigeria, and the extent of corporate corruption within the Nigeria police or survival of profit making organizations. The focus of the research study is Nigeria police, Imo State Command. As a qualitative survey (in-depth interview approach), the study population was limited to 212 respondents selected through sampling method. The respondents in the study composed of both the civilians and the police personnel. The study revealed that the concept of police and what a stand is for is not strange to the populace (particularly the population of this study) as they could recount the services rendered by the police in the society off-hand. Most of the respondents have had dealings with the police based on various reasons. To some respondents, the nature of their profession has made it impossible for them to avoid coming in contact with police (such as commercial motorists); others as a result of following some relations and neighbours who had one problem or the other to sort out in the police station. Nowadays, the police personnel stand into negotiation and accept homeages from the hoodlums in the street, even in the open places. However, majority of the respondents does not see the police (as an entity) and their personnel as worthy of being associated with based on their corrupt practices, activities and crafty nature. the entire civil populace arm of this study see the police as very corrupt, while among the police arm, existence of corporate corruption within the force was affirmed, but blanket generalization of the entire system was rejected. Among the factors mentioned as responsible for prevalence of corporate corruption among the police in Nigeria, inadequate finance of the police which in part result to irregular payment of salary ranked highest. Data from the survey equally revealed that the corporate corruption is affecting the efficiency of the police in many ways. A commonly mentioned effect of corporate corruption on the performance of police the ever-increasing crime rate, inquiry into police’s commitment to control crime in Nigeria shows diverse responses. Some respondents believe that the police are committed to duties while some did not. Some respondents assert that the police can do better with improved technology in their condition of service. However, the study shows that people have developed lukewarm attitude towards reporting cases to the police as at when due, as a result of lack of faith in the police. On the basis of this, suggestions were made on how to make the society habitable for the generality in view of the fact that police cannot operate without the support of the civil populace and vice-versa.