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Your rights when police stop or arrest you
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My emergency contact
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What to do
- 1Stay calm. Do not run, argue or resist physically.
- 2Ask the officer's name and police station.
- 3Ask clearly: "Am I under arrest? What is the reason?"
- 4Say: "I will remain silent until I speak to a lawyer."
- 5Note the time, place, vehicle number and any witnesses.
- 6Call or message someone you trust as soon as you can.
Your rights
They must tell you why you are being arrested.
“shall inform the suspect immediately of the reason for the arrest”
Police Act 2020, s. 35(1)
You can stay silent until you have spoken to a lawyer or someone you choose.
“shall have the right to remain silent or avoid answering any question until after consultation with a legal practitioner or any other person of his own choice”
Constitution, s. 35(2)
Nobody may torture you, beat you, or treat you in a degrading way.
“no person shall be subject to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment”
Constitution, s. 34(1)(a)
For any search, the officer must first ask for your cooperation. Force is a last resort.
“The co-operation of the person to be searched shall be sought in every case”
Police Act 2020, s. 51(2)
Your phone calls, messages and home are protected as private.
“The privacy of citizens, their homes, correspondence, telephone conversations and telegraphic communications is hereby guaranteed and protected”
Constitution, s. 37
You cannot be arrested over a debt, a contract dispute or any civil matter.
“A suspect shall not be arrested merely on a civil wrong or breach of contract”
ACJA 2015, s. 8(2)
They cannot arrest you in place of a relative or friend they are looking for.
“A person shall not be arrested in place of a suspect”
Police Act 2020, s. 36
You must be allowed to get legal advice and to contact someone to arrange bail.
“reasonable facilities for obtaining legal advice, access to communication for taking steps to furnish bail”
ACJA 2015, s. 14(2)
Unless the offence carries the death penalty, the station must consider releasing you on bail.
“shall inquire into the case and release the suspect arrested on bail”
Police Act 2020, s. 62(1)
You must be taken to court within one day if a court is within 40 km, otherwise within two days.
“within a radius of forty kilometres, a period of one day”
Constitution, s. 35(5)
Every quote on this card is checked against the statute text.
Free legal help: Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, National Human Rights Commission, Police Service Commission.
Wetin is a guide, not a lawyer. These rights come from the Constitution, the Police Act 2020 and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.