Femi Falana, human rights lawyer and senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), says it’s a crime for any Nigerian police officer to assault or harass a civilian. <\/p>\n
Falana said this in reaction to claims by Olumuyiwa Adejobi, spokesman of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), on how civilians should react to assault by officers.<\/a><\/p>\n Reacting on Saturday to a viral video where two men were seen wrestling with an armed officer, Adejobi had said \u201ceven if a policeman on uniform slaps a civilian, the civilian has no right to retaliate\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cMore so, if he\u2019s on uniform, it\u2019s an act of disrespect to Nigeria to beat an officer on uniform. The disrespect is not to the policeman but to our nation and it\u2019s a crime as enshrined in our criminal laws,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n \u201cSo it\u2019s not a case of what the policeman did that led to it, but the reaction of the civilians who actually assaulted the police. If police assault a civilian, you report and actions will be taken to rebuke him, not to take the law into your hands.\u201d<\/p>\n Even if a policeman on uniform slaps a civilian, the civilian has no right to retaliate more so if hes on uniform, its an act of disrespect to Nigeria, to beat an officer on uniform, the disrespect is not to the policeman but to our nation and its a crime as enshrined in https:\/\/t.co\/csNA8rZLJU<\/a><\/p>\n — Prince Olumuyiwa Adejobi (@Princemoye1) September 17, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n