Wilson Adekumola
The Nigeria Police Force have explained the process of arrest noting they can call invitation and arrest, depending on the circumstances, adding officers have the right to arrest without the issuance of arrest warrant, except in some special cases.
In a video posted on the official Twitter handle of the force on Saturday, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumiyiwa Adejobi, expatiated the difference between invitation and arrest.
“We have two things, we have a call invitation and arrest, It is not all time we arrest, almost times we send people out to go and invite, police on invitation with their ID card will tell you I’m so so person, that we need you in our station to come and clarify issues. It is different from arrest.
“Arrest will not tell you we are for invitation, they will come, while the law says in most cases they should tell you why you are been arrested, but it depends, the man should use his discretion to determine whether the circumstance or ground will allow him to explain issues to you, that this is why you are arrested.
“If the place is not so tensed, the man will tell you that you are being arrested for so so offenses, but not in all cases.
“Whether the man explains to you or not, one thing is certain, that police man who has been sent out there has the power to arrest you, and not in all cases that this arrest must have warrant or this officer must poses a warrant or arrest, so far an offense is a felonious offense, a policeman has the powers, authority to arrest you without warrant.
“Except in some cases that the law has described or rather said we should have warrant to arrest, in cases of false assumption of office, abuse of office, bargaining for office in public service, fabricating evidence and the likes,” he explained.
