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When dealing with the Police ,you have to be extra careful else that issue you take for granted could land you in jail.
If you are arrested for any reason before you take any action insist to call a Lawyer,a relative or a friend !You are entitled to it by the new Administration of Criminal Justice Law .
Insist to write your Statement your self. If you can not write, ensure you have a Lawyer with you.The easiest way to be convicted is to make a confessional statement.
The Police can not force you to make a Statement and they can not harm you, except you a robber, kidnapper or you are found with guns .
Do not be forced for any reason to write what is not your voluntary statement .If the Police write your statement by themselves and they force you to sign ,do not sign under any circumstances If they threaten to throw you into the cell ,don’t be wary or be afraid ,it is better to go to the cell for one day ,than to spend years in prison, based on a confessional statement that is not your will.
Do not sign as a Surety for some one on administrative bail except you can vouch for his character, else you are going to go through a harrowing experience if the person jumped bail .
When you approach a police check point ,be polite to the Police officers ,communicate in good English. If the Police Man is adamant ,look at his name tag and address him by his name ,he will be humbled .If he is in mufti ,politely ask him which unit ,he is from ,that will also humble him .
If a Police Man was to search your phone or laptop ask him to bring a search warrant.
The Police Act ,Cap 19 ,LFN,2004, provides that the Police need a warrant signed by either a superior police officer (an Officer of the rank of ASP and above or a Magistrate) before they search your Chattel (Property). Your Phone and your Laptop are very private chattel ,where confidential information are stored and cannot be assessed by a Security Officer ,except with a Warrant.You also entitled to search a police officer ,before he searches you or your house or car !This is to ensure that you are not implicated and for the transparency of the process.
If a Police Officer misbehaves reach the Nigeria Police Complaint Response Unit in Abuja on 08057000001,08057000002,(for calls ) and 08057000003 for SMS and Whatsapp. Ensure you have salients details like the date ,time ,place the incidence took place or the registration or serial number of the patrol vehicle .With those details ,they will be fished out.
Police Officers do not go on a beat except they are booked out by the Station Officer. Any other other duty not booked is illegal duty. Google the Police Control Room number of your state and save it on your phone ,it could save your life or your property.
Ogbankwa is the Publicity Secretary, Nigerian Bar Association, Benin branch.
