Ignorance of the Law is No Excuse – Police Educate Nigerians on Legal Obligations
Ignorance of the Law is No Excuse – Police Educate Nigerians on Legal Obligations
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has reiterated the importance of understanding legal responsibilities, particularly regarding interactions with public officers. In a statement issued on Sunday and titled “Know the Law and Be Guided,” Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, outlined key legal provisions to educate citizens.
Resisting Public Officers
Highlighting Section 197 of the Criminal Code Act, the statement noted:
“Any person who in any manner obstructs or resists any public officer while engaged in the discharge or attempted discharge of his duties under any order, Act, law, or statute, or obstructs or resists any person while engaged in the discharge or attempted discharge of any duty imposed on him by an order, Act, law, or statute, is guilty of a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for two years.”
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Key Sections from the Police Act 2020
1. Section 42: Citizens are obligated to assist judges, magistrates, police officers, or other authorised persons in arresting or preventing the escape of suspects.
2. Section 98:
“A person who assaults, obstructs, or resists a police officer in the discharge of his duty, or aids or incites any other person to assault, obstruct, or resist a police officer or any other person aiding or assisting the police officer in the discharge of his duty, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of ₦500,000 or imprisonment for a term of six months, or both.”
3. Section 99:
“When a person is called upon to aid and assist a police officer who is, while in the discharge of his duty, assaulted or resisted, or in danger of being assaulted or resisted, and the person refuses or neglects to aid and assist, the person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of ₦100,000 or imprisonment for a term of three months, or both.”
The NPF urged citizens to familiarize themselves with these legal provisions to ensure compliance and avoid actions that could result in severe consequences.
