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Police Misconduct: A mother detained over alleged debt in a clear violation of Nigeria's laws

In a recent troubling incident, Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, a human rights activist and lawyer, asserts that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is unequivocally not a debt recovery agency, despite allegations to the contrary. According to prevailing statutory laws and judicial precedents, the NPF is not authorized to engage in debt collection activities.

The Nigeria Police Act clearly defines the duties and responsibilities of the NPF, omitting any provisions for debt recovery. Moreover, superior courts have consistently ruled that the police cannot be utilized as instruments for resolving private financial disputes. Landmark cases such as KURE v. COMMISSIONER OF POLICE (2020)  and MADAKI & ANOR v. GTB & ANOR (2022)** reaffirm this stance.

One egregious example highlighted by Ejiofor involves the distressing case of Mrs. Joy Smart Chinenye, who was brutally arrested and detained by officers from the NPF’s Monitoring Unit. This incident unfolded on March 28, 2025, which was also Mothering Sunday—a day that should have been devoted to celebrating motherhood.

Acting on a petition from her legally married husband, Mr. George Obinna Smart Unaegbu, Mrs. Chinenye was arrested in her Lagos home in the presence of their children. Her husband had purportedly provided her with funds for forex trading, which she could not repay. Instead of seeking legal remedies through civil channels, he enlisted police involvement. Following her arrest, she was coerced into transferring ₦5 million to her husband's account. When she was unable to fulfill a demand for an additional ₦10 million, she was forcibly taken to Abuja's notorious Abattoir detention facility, known for housing hardened criminals.

Shocking developments continued in her absence, as her husband relocated their children and seized her personal belongings.

DIRECT VIOLATION OF POLICE DIRECTIVES

The Nigeria Police Service Commission (NPSC), under Chairman DIG Hashimu Argungu (RTD), along with the Inspector General of Police (IGP), has issued definitive directives prohibiting officers from engaging in:

1. Handling complaints regarding land disputes 
2. Arrests on behalf of others (arrests by proxy)
3. Debt recovery, among other issues.

In this instance, the officers involved grossly flouted these directives, demonstrating a preference for private financial disputes over their constitutional obligations.

A CALL TO ACTION

We call upon the Inspector General of Police to:

1. Immediately and unconditionally release Mrs. Joy Smart Chinenye.
2. Conduct a thorough investigation into this abuse of power.
3. Sanction all officers involved to prevent future misconduct.

While legal action is being evaluated, it is crucial to elevate public awareness of this incident to uphold the rule of law. The Nigeria Police must not be misused as a tool for settling private grievances, particularly on a day meant to honor mothers. Such actions are especially egregious given the explicit warnings issued by the highest levels of police authority against such misconduct that undermines the institution's integrity.

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