The Integrity Youth Alliance, an organisation that has been monitoring the development trends in the Nigeria Police Force for over 15 years, has said that the call by the Take It Back Movement, a political movement that was campaigning for Peter Obi in the 2019 presidential election, for the resignation of the Nigeria police spokesperson, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, is baseless, coming from Slow-witted Sanyaolu Juwon.
Reacting to a publication by Sahara Reporters titled, “TIB Movement Calls For Resignation Of Nigerian Police Spokesman Adejobi For Saying Police Can Enter Properties Without Warrant,” the Publicity Director of the Alliance, Danjuma Lamido, said a police officer can conduct such searches without a warrant if they reasonably believe that the object contains something illegal.
“This authority is derived from the general duty of the police to prevent and detect crimes as stated in Section 4 of the Nigerian Police Act. The purpose of granting this power is to enable law enforcement to act swiftly based on reasonable suspicions, allowing them to secure potential evidence for criminal investigations.
“It is important for police officers to exercise this authority responsibly and within legal boundaries, ensuring that searches are not arbitrary or abusive. Overall, the aim is to empower the police to effectively maintain public safety and uphold peace in society.
Also, Section 55 of the Police Act 2020 states that ” (1) Where a person or police officer acting under a warrant of arrest or otherwise having authority to arrest has reason to believe that the suspect to be arrested has entered into or is within any house or place, the person residing in or being in charge of the house or place shall, on demand by the police officer or person acting for the police officer, allow him free access to the house or place and afford all reasonable facilities to search the house or place for the suspect sought to be arrested. “
“(2) Where access to a house or place cannot be obtained under subsection (1), the person or police officer may enter the house or place and search it for the suspect to be arrested, and in order to effect an entrance into the house or place, may break open any outer or inner door or window of any house or place, whether that of the suspect to be arrested or of any other person, or otherwise effect entry into such house or place, if after notification of his authority and purpose and demand of admittance duly made, he cannot obtain admittance. A search of a place entered by a suspect sought to be arrested.
“Also, under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, Section 18. (I) A police officer may, without an order of a co-art and without a warrant when a suspect:
(a) whom he suspects on reasonable grounds of having committed an offence against a law in Nigeria or against the law of any other country unless the law creating the offence provides that the suspect cannot be arrested without a warrant;
(b) who commits any offence in his presence:
(c) who obstructs a police officer while in the execution of his duty, or who has escaped or attempts to escape from lawful custody; (d) in whose possession anything is found which may reasonably be suspected to be stolen property or who may reasonably be suspected of having committed an offence with reference to the thing;
(e) whom he suspects on reasonable grounds of being a deserter from any of the armed forces of Nigeria;
“With the above relevant sections of the law, the statement by the politically motivated Take It Back Movement is baseless and inefficacious, Danjuma Lamido said.
He concluded by saying, “The Nigeria police, under the leadership of IGP Kayode Egbetokun, have been transparent, respecting the rule of law, and accountable to the public they serve. The leadership style introduced by IGP Egbetokun has helped to build trust between the police force and the community, leading to better cooperation and overall safety and security for everyone.”.
