Lagos Police Warn: Complaints and Bail Are Free
Lagos Police Warn Residents Against Paying for Complaints or Bail, Urge Reporting of Extortion
The Lagos State Police Command has reiterated that filing complaints and securing bail at any police station is entirely free of charge, warning residents not to give in to unlawful demands by officers.
This reminder was issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, during a media briefing on Wednesday in Lagos.
His remarks come in response to persistent reports of extortion by police personnel, despite ongoing public sensitization efforts that bail is not to be paid for.
Hundeyin emphasized that the police do not authorize or condone such practices and urged the public to report any officer who requests payment. He encouraged Lagosians to use the Command’s Complaint Response Unit (CRU) for such reports.
“People must stop succumbing to extortion. If any officer demands money for filing a complaint or granting bail, citizens should immediately report the matter to the CRU of the Lagos State Police Command,” Hundeyin stated.
He cited a recent incident in which a complainant called the CRU after being asked for money by a police officer. Following the intervention of the CRU, the individual was released without making any payment.
“This is exactly why we have set up these reporting channels—to ensure accountability and discipline within the Force. People need to make use of them,” he said.
Hundeyin stressed that demanding payment for bail or lodging complaints is a corrupt act that violates the core principles of policing and will not be tolerated.
The Command reassured the public of its commitment to rooting out misconduct within its ranks and called on residents to support this effort by refusing to pay and reporting erring officers.
Lagos Police Warn: Complaints and Bail Are Free