By By Micheal Chukwuebuka
THE Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has cautioned officers of the Nigeria Police Force against arresting individuals over civil disputes or breaches of contract, stressing that such actions contravene the Police Act.
Speaking on Wednesday, August 27, at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Enugu State, Egbetokun — represented by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Legal Services, Ohiozoba Ehiede — reminded officers that Section 32(2) of the Act explicitly limits arrests to criminal offences.
“A person shall not be arrested merely on a civil wrong or breach of contract,” the police chief reiterated, adding that no individual should ever be detained in place of another. “So, you cannot arrest a husband for an offence committed by his wife.”
Egbetokun also condemned the practice of policemen demanding “mobilisation” money before carrying out investigations, insisting it is both illegal and alien to the Force. He urged victims of such demands to report to the Police Complaint Response Unit (CRU). His remarks drew loud reactions from lawyers present at the session.
The discussion, 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; human rights lawyers Femi Falana (SAN) and Dr. Mike Ozekhome (SAN); as well as the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Dr. Anthony Ojukwu (SAN).
Moderated by Babatunde Ogala (SAN), the panel examined security challenges, recurring human rights violations and the need for greater accountability in law enforcement.
The Inspector-General further urged Nigerians to hold police officers accountable whenever their rights are infringed upon, stressing that the Force must operate strictly within the limits of the law.
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