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Breaking News: IG Egbetokun Warns: Police Must Not Arrest Over Civil Disputes or Contract Breaches
Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has cautioned officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force against arresting individuals over civil disputes or breaches of contract, stressing that such actions violate the Police Act.
Speaking yesterday at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Enugu State, the IG represented by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Legal Services, Ohiozoba Ehiede reminded the Force that Section 32(2) of the Police Act explicitly restricts arrests to criminal offences.
“A person shall not be arrested merely on a civil wrong or breach of contract,” Egbetokun reiterated, adding that no one should be detained in lieu of another person. “So, you cannot arrest a husband for an offence committed by his wife.”
The IG also addressed the recurring issue of policemen demanding “mobilisation” money before carrying out investigations, insisting that such practice is illegal and alien to the Force. “The issue of mobilisation is unknown to the Nigeria Police. Anyone asked to pay before an investigation should report to the Police Complaint Response Unit (CRU),” he said, drawing loud reactions from lawyers present.
The session, themed “Citizens’ Rights and Security Concerns”, also featured the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede; Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Adeola Ajayi; prominent human rights lawyers Femi Falana (SAN) and Dr. Mike Ozekhome (SAN); as well as Dr. Anthony Ojukwu (SAN), Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission.
Moderated by Babatunde Ogala (SAN), the panel discussed widespread concerns over security, human rights violations, and the need for greater accountability in law enforcement.
Egbetokun urged Nigerians to hold officers accountable by filing complaints whenever their rights are infringed upon, stressing that the Police Force must operate strictly within the provisions of the law.