Accountability Mechanisms for Police Brutality in Nigeria: Evaluating the Role of the Police Service Commission in Enugu State

Police brutality and extrajudicial conduct by law enforcement agents remain pervasive human rights challenges in Nigeria, dramatically highlighted by the 2020 End SARS protests and their global resonance. The Police Service Commission (PSC) is constitutionally mandated to appoint, promote, and discipline members of the Nigerian Police Force, serving as a key accountability mechanism. This research evaluates the role of the Police Service Commission in addressing police brutality complaints in Enugu State, South East Nigeria. A qualitative research methodology was adopted, incorporating interviews with human rights lawyers, PSC state liaison officers, and individuals who had filed complaints against police personnel. Court records and PSC disciplinary records from 2019 to 2024 were analysed as secondary sources, alongside Amnesty International reports and academic literature. The findings reveal that the PSC's disciplinary mechanisms are rarely invoked in response to brutality complaints, and when disciplinary proceedings do occur, they lack transparency and rarely result in meaningful consequences for offending officers. Complainants face significant obstacles including lack of access to legal assistance and fear of retaliation. The research recommends establishing a fully independent police oversight body at the state level, mandatory public reporting of disciplinary outcomes, and expanded legal aid for brutality victims pursuing civil claims. This study contributes to police accountability and human rights law scholarship in South East Nigeria. Keywords: police brutality, accountability, Police Service Commission, Enugu State, human rights.