The Edo State Police Command has stressed the illegality of police examining residents’ phones during normal patrols and other operations, calling the practice “unprofessional conduct.”
SP Chidi Nwabuzor, the command’s Public Relations Officer, confirmed this in a statement put on the command’s Facebook page on Friday.
In the announcement, the state’s Commissioner of Police, CP Funsho Adegboye, advised officers not to do this conduct because the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the punishment of erring officials.
The statement read,
“This press release is to inform the general public especially the law abiding citizens of Edo State of the state police command’s position regarding searching of citizens’ phones by operatives while on routine patrol, stop and search duties in the state.
“The Commissioner of Police Edo State, CP Funsho Adegboye, during a meeting with the command’s strategic security managers, re-echoed the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, on the ban on seaching of citizens’ phones while on patrol, raid operations, stop and search duties or other essential duties.
“He warned that on no account should police officers/operatives engage in searching citizens’ phones in line of duties.”
According to the statement, CP Adegboye explained that police can only check people’s phones while executing a court order from a court of competent jurisdiction, which enables them to carry out such responsibilities throughout an investigation.
He told officers and personnel to stop “this unprofessional conduct of searching phones,” and that any officer found doing so would face harsh consequences.
The CP also advised the people to be patient with the police and report any officer who engages in unprofessional behavior.
According to PUNCH, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fayoade Adegoke, has stated that no police officer is entitled to examine any Nigerian’s phone.
Meanwhile, Muyiwa Adejobi, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Nigerian Police Force, has addressed concerns over transgender people in Nigeria.
Notable figures in this discourse include Bobrisky, James Brown, and Jay Boogie.
Adejobi provided insight into the complexity of crossdresser prosecution, highlighting that some cases pose major evidentiary issues.
He used rape as an example, pointing out that the judicial system requires numerous aspects to be proven.
Failure to offer adequate evidence on any front may result in the dismissal of a case in court.
Contrary to popular assumption, the PRO stated that cross-dressing is not prohibited in Nigeria, at least to his knowledge.
He underlined that, while there may be complaints against crossdressers, these accusations are frequently based on ‘natural offenses’.
To win a conviction, the prosecution must offer compelling evidence to back up these assertions.
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