It has been made known time and time again,
that Police bail is free. The words “bail is free” have been recited by
officers of the Nigerian Police on several occasions, so –
that Police bail is free. The words “bail is free” have been recited by
officers of the Nigerian Police on several occasions, so –
1. Why is bail still
collected in Nigerian police stations?
collected in Nigerian police stations?
2. What is the money
collected as bail used for?
collected as bail used for?
On the 2nd of May, 2017, The
Punch Newspapers, broke a story about a 50 year old photographer who died
shortly after being released on bail. The said newspaper article is available here.
The photographer allegedly died as a result of torture in the hands of the
police but that allegation is being investigated and not the purpose of this
article. In this post, I will like to bring to the fore other elements of the
story.
Punch Newspapers, broke a story about a 50 year old photographer who died
shortly after being released on bail. The said newspaper article is available here.
The photographer allegedly died as a result of torture in the hands of the
police but that allegation is being investigated and not the purpose of this
article. In this post, I will like to bring to the fore other elements of the
story.
According to the news report by The Punch
Newspaper, Mr. Kola Adeyeye, a photographer had been arrested alongside 4(four)
others. At the time of his arrest, no criminal allegation was made against him
and all he happened to be doing was drinking herbal concoctions at a local spot
where it was sold. Mr. Adeyeye was then taken to a Courtyard, where the head of
the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) team who made the arrest interviewed
them. The Head of the SARS team cleared them of any wrong doing but ordered
that they pay for bail before they could be released from detention. It was
learnt that while others paid betweenN25,000
andN40,000 and were set free, Mr.
Adeyeye was remanded because he could not raise the bail sum and was reportedly
kept in detention for 7 (seven) days until his pastor came to bail him withN3,500. N2000
was paid while the deceased’s phone was seized until he came back to pay the
remainingN1,500. Mr. Adeyeye then died
on the motorcycle that was taking him home.
Newspaper, Mr. Kola Adeyeye, a photographer had been arrested alongside 4(four)
others. At the time of his arrest, no criminal allegation was made against him
and all he happened to be doing was drinking herbal concoctions at a local spot
where it was sold. Mr. Adeyeye was then taken to a Courtyard, where the head of
the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) team who made the arrest interviewed
them. The Head of the SARS team cleared them of any wrong doing but ordered
that they pay for bail before they could be released from detention. It was
learnt that while others paid between
and
Adeyeye was remanded because he could not raise the bail sum and was reportedly
kept in detention for 7 (seven) days until his pastor came to bail him with
was paid while the deceased’s phone was seized until he came back to pay the
remaining
on the motorcycle that was taking him home.
From the above report, I have raised the
following questions that need to be determined;
following questions that need to be determined;
a. If bail is free,
how come the head of a Special Anti – Robbery Team could demand for it?
how come the head of a Special Anti – Robbery Team could demand for it?
b. If bail is free,
how come Mr. Adeyeye was not released from detention unconditionally even after
he was cleared of any wrongful act?
how come Mr. Adeyeye was not released from detention unconditionally even after
he was cleared of any wrongful act?
c. If bail is free,
what happened to the monies paid by the other people arrested alongside Mr.
Adeyeye?
what happened to the monies paid by the other people arrested alongside Mr.
Adeyeye?
d. If bail is free,
does it mean the Head of the Special Anti – Robbery Squad is himself a robber?
does it mean the Head of the Special Anti – Robbery Squad is himself a robber?
e. If bail is free,
can the leadership of the Nigerian Police force admit to not knowing that bail
money is still collected in police stations across the country?
can the leadership of the Nigerian Police force admit to not knowing that bail
money is still collected in police stations across the country?
f. If bail is free,
does it mean police officers who demand for bail are part of criminal racketeering
enterprise within the Nigerian police?
does it mean police officers who demand for bail are part of criminal racketeering
enterprise within the Nigerian police?
I will leave the questions to be answered
by the Inspector – General of Police or Mr. Yomi Shogunle, Assistant Commissioner
of Police, Public Complaints Rapid Response Unit, he can be reached via his
twitter handle @yomishogunle.
by the Inspector – General of Police or Mr. Yomi Shogunle, Assistant Commissioner
of Police, Public Complaints Rapid Response Unit, he can be reached via his
twitter handle @yomishogunle.
However, because bail is free, I will
recommend that if any police officer demands bail from you, please make a
complaint by contacting the Police Complaints Unit via 08057000001 or via the website
npf.gov.ng/complaint/ . Don’t forget,
just the way bail is free in Nigerian police stations, the police is also your
friend.
recommend that if any police officer demands bail from you, please make a
complaint by contacting the Police Complaints Unit via 08057000001 or via the website
npf.gov.ng/complaint/ . Don’t forget,
just the way bail is free in Nigerian police stations, the police is also your
friend.
Adedunmade Onibokun, Esq.
Photo Credit – www.nigeriapolicewatch.com