'Folabi Alawode
A student of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), identified as Amobi Francis, from the Faculty of Law has narrated his ordeal with officers of the Nigeria Police Force earlier today.
Francis, who spoke with our correspondent revealed that he was on his way to Yaba, when the fierce-looking men stopped him and asked for his phone.
It should be noted that it is fast-becoming for security agencies to stop and search citizens randomly on the basis of suspected fraud. As well, it has been reported that youths and students perceived to be involved in cyber crime have always been the primary target of the stop and search scheme which sometimes serve as a means of extorting the victims if incriminating items are found on their phones. They will be asked to "settle" these officers or risk being arrested and taken to the police custody.
Francis, however, claimed that he refused to unlock his phone. He said, "I was asked to follow them to their custody, but I refused. Immediately, on-lookers joined us in the heated discussion. I became agitated and I asked them what they really wanted from me, I told them to stop harassing me. They told me they were fulfilling their official duty as men of the Police force.
"With my little knowledge of law, I told them EFCC and ICPC are agencies responsible for investigating and arrest of suspects not the Nigeria Police Force, and that the Police is supposed to protect lives and properties of citizens not to harass them.
"I made sure my voice was not shaking. I insisted on my points and I made it clear to the policemen and people around us that they have no right to search and arrest me unless they provide a search and arrest warrants respectively, or probably they got reports from somewhere which I'm sure they didn't. I showed them my University ID Card, that I'm a student and I know my rights.
"I was about to quote a particular section of the Police Act and also the EFCC Act, when on-lookers joined in the discussion and these officers became speechless. Instantly, they told me to go. People were just looking at me. I felt on the top of the world, I must confess."
It should be recalled, that recently, a female twitter user claimed Olabisi Onabanjo University is the headquarters of "Yahoo Yahoo" in Nigeria. And whoever does not succomb to the pressure can withstand any tough life situation.
This is a good move from Amobi Francis, and he made claims that are true and FACTUAL. Most times, some police men will put whatever they are looking for in the phones and claim they found it in the phone when they collected the phone from the victim and unfortunately for the victim, he will be charged for a crime he know nothing about. Francis refused to give out the phone and that was brilliant.
ReplyDeleteAs a citizen, one should hold his ground, and refuse to succumb to whatever they want since he or she will is "clean" especially when they aren't with a Search or Arrest warrant. And we should make sure we know the laws guiding the activities of these "Law Enforcement Agencies"
Kudos to AMOBI FRANCIS
okay.
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