The Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ahmed Sanusi, has warned Abuja residents not to allow police officers to search their phones during routine arrests or stop-and-search operations.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Monday, Sanusi said no police officer has the legal right to demand access to a person’s phone on the road. He urged residents to raise an alarm immediately if any officer attempts to do so, assuring that the FCT Police Command would respond promptly.
“Don’t allow any police officers to search your phone and we’re saying this due to the abuse and extortive tendencies of some of our officers,”he said.
He explained that officers have been expressly instructed not to search phones simply because they suspect someone of being involved in internet fraud.
“It has been instructed that nobody should search any phone, especially when you just arrest somebody on the road and you start searching the person’s phone, suspecting that he is an internet fraudster.”
Sanusi, however, noted that phones can be searched during a lawful investigation, but only after a suspect has been properly arrested and taken to the police station as part of gathering evidence.
“This does not negate the fact that phones are also being used to commit crime. But of course, before such a thing can happen, the person must have committed the crime, must have been properly arrested and brought to the station, then when trying to uncover some evidence, you can search to see whether the phone or other items are being used to perpetuate the crime,” Sanusi stressed
“But for you to just stop anybody on the road and say bring your phone, let me search, is not legal.
If any policeman stops you on the road, according to the instructions of the Inspector-General of Police, which we are bound to obey to the last of it, don’t open your phone, resist and ask other people to help you call the police. You will see our men there,” the Commissioner said.
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