Nigeria Police won’t arrest for criticising, abusing government officials
Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun
Nigeria Police won’t arrest for criticising, abusing government officials
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has said that the Nigeria Police Force will not arrest individuals for criticising or abusing public officials, including himself.
He stated that citizens have the right to free expression as long as it does not involve the publication of falsehood.
The IG’s remarks come amid growing concerns and recent allegations that the police have been using their powers to clamp down on critics and dissenting voices.
Speaking at a briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, the police chief stated that criticism, especially when constructive, is welcomed and helps to keep public officials accountable.
He said, “We don’t arrest anybody for abusing anybody. Have you not seen how they abuse the IG on social media? Have you heard we arrested anybody for abusing the IG? They have been abusing me.
“I don’t care about the abuse. You can abuse me. You can criticise me. If your criticism is constructive, it’s going to help me to be on my toes. I will do more. So, I welcome criticism.”
He clarified, however, that the police will act when individuals publish false information that could injure the character of others, citing provisions of the Cybercrime Act.
“The Cybercrime Act makes it a criminal offence for anybody to publish falsehood against anybody, whether public official or private individual.
“If you publish falsehood that can injure the personality of that other person, it’s an offence. It’s a criminal offence, ” he said.
He noted that such cases used to be civil matters in the past but are now treated as criminal offences under the current law.
“Before now, before the Cyber Crime Act, it was a civil offence. Then the complainant would be advised to go and take civil action. But with the Act that we have, if you publish falsehood against any individual, you are committing a criminal offence and you can be picked up, you can be arrested and charged to court.
“If we arrest you for such offence, we don’t take you to our houses or anywhere. We take you to the court. So the police will not arrest anybody who abuses a government official.
“But if you publish falsehood against that public official and the public official complain against you, you are liable to arrest. We will arrest you and charge you to court, ” he said
The IG also revealed that although he had been a victim of multiple defamatory publications, he often refrains from pursuing legal action due to the sensitivity of his office.
“I know many times falsehood have been published against me and I will just be quiet.
“It’s because of my sensitive position. If I were to be a private individual, I will complain against them and I will go after them. I hope that is clear,” he said.
