A fresh debate over Nigeria Police accountability has erupted in Lagos after two young Nigerians were arrested for recording Police officers alleged to be extorting motorists at the Lagos Trade Fair Complex. The arrests were ordered by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Trade Fair Division, CSP Elebute Olabisi, prompting public outrage and renewed calls for systemic reform.
The two individuals, Onyeama Felix (31) and Agboola Titilayo (27), were reportedly filming officers suspected of collecting illegal payments from motorists on the Trade Fair bridge and near the station gate. Instead of addressing the alleged misconduct, the DPO ordered their detention and charged them under “conduct likely to cause breach of peace.”
They were remanded pending bail.
A Constitutional Right, Not a Crime
The arrests contradict public statements made by the Nigeria Police Force itself. In 2023, former Force spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi stated clearly that citizens have the right to record police officers performing their duties: “You can video or take pictures of policemen on duty. There is nothing wrong with that.”
Legal and human rights analysts say the arrest violates:
- Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution: Right to receive and share information.
- Police Act 2020 provisions on transparency and accountability.
The principle that the police exist to protect rights—not suppress them.
As one legal analyst noted: “If filming police officers is now a crime, then accountability itself is illegal.”
The Larger Question: Who Polices the Police?
This case echoes recurring concerns raised by legal scholars and human rights advocates regarding unchecked police authority in Nigeria. While the police are entrusted with enforcing law and protecting citizens, abuse of power continues to be widely documented across the country.
As one constitutional scholar put it: “The essence of policing is to defend human rights—not to intimidate citizens who insist on transparency.”
Yet, across Nigeria, cases of unlawful detention, extortion at checkpoints, and violent interrogations continue to be reported.
When the Police Become a Threat Instead of Protection
Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution states that: The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. But when police officers respond aggressively to being recorded, analysts argue it signals fear of exposure, not enforcement of law.
A senior civil society advocate told Newspot Nigeria: “This case is a test: Do we want a police force that welcomes accountability—or one that punishes those who expose wrongdoing?”
Calls for Action
Human rights groups are demanding:
- Immediate withdrawal of charges
- Independent investigation of the DPO
- Institutional safeguards for citizens filming public officers
Civil society organizations say no democratic society can function when corruption is protected and transparency is criminalized.
The Trust Crisis Deepens
Nigeria has witnessed repeated promises of police reform. But cases like this reinforce a public perception of the police as a force feared, not respected.
If citizens who record wrongdoing are treated as criminals, observers warn, impunity will become policy.
Newspot Nigeria will continue to track developments.
@Newspot Nigeria