The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has directed that all individuals arrested for bailable offences—particularly misdemeanours and other minor violations—must be granted bail without delay and should not be detained overnight.
The development was disclosed by the spokesperson for the Delta State Police Command, SP Bright Edafe, in a post shared via his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday.
According to Edafe, the directive is aimed at ensuring full compliance with constitutional provisions on personal liberty and human dignity. It mandates that all divisional police officers and other operatives within the Delta State Command immediately enforce the order.
“In compliance with the directive of the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of Police Delta State, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, has issued a firm directive to DPOs and officers of the command that henceforth all suspects involved in bailable offenses such as simple offenses or misdemeanors should be granted bail unconditionally and they must not be made to sleep in the cell,” Edafe stated.
The directive aligns with Sections 34 and 35 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantee the right to dignity and personal liberty. These constitutional protections have often been disregarded in practice, with reports of suspects in minor cases held in prolonged pre-trial detention across the country.
Edafe advised citizens to be informed of their rights, noting that individuals arrested for such offences should be released once a suitable surety is provided. He also encouraged victims of unlawful detention to report incidents directly to police authorities.
“For any breach of this directive, send a WhatsApp complaint with details to 09011112311,” Edafe said. “Screenshot this and keep it on your phone. Ensure that you have a reliable surety.”
Nigeria has long faced challenges related to the abuse of police detention powers, including the prolonged incarceration of suspects without trial, particularly for civil or non-violent matters. The latest order is seen as part of a broader push by the Nigeria Police Force to reform custodial procedures and improve rights-based policing.
