Don’t Let Police Search Your Phone on the Road, It’s Illegal – FCT Police Commissioner Warns Nigerians

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 stop-and-search operations, describing the practice as illegal.

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 if any officer attempts to do so, assuring them that the FCT Police Command would respond promptly.

According to him, the directive was issued to curb abuse and extortion by some officers. “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.

The police commissioner explained that officers have been 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 fra¥dster,” Sanusi stated.

He, however, clarified that phones can be searched during a lawful investigation 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,” he said.

Sanusi further stressed that random phone searches on the road are against the law.

“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,” he added.