Phone Ban at Ogun Police Station Sparks Legal Dispute

ByEditor

Jan 27, 2026 #citizens’ rights Nigeria, #Falujo v EFCC judgment, #Festus Ogun lawyer, #Igbeba Police Station, #Nigeria Police legality, #Ogun Police phone ban, #Ogun State Police controversy, #police station phone restriction

Segun Atanda/

A controversy has erupted over the legality of restricting members of the public from entering police stations with mobile phones, following complaints about practices at the Igbeba Police Station in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.

The debate was triggered by a public query from Hon Olayiwola Quadri, who questioned why visitors to the station are required to drop their phones at the gate or under a tree before gaining entry.

He said no explanation was provided for the policy and called on the Nigeria Police Force and Ogun State Police Command to clarify its legal basis.

Responding to the criticism, the Ogun State Police spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, defended the practice, insisting it is lawful.

According to him, restricting phones within police stations is necessary to ensure the safety of suspects, protect their identities and prevent sensitive operational assets from being compromised.

He argued that Nigerian laws permit such measures, provided suspects’ rights are respected.

However, legal experts and human rights advocates have strongly disputed this position, warning that the practice may amount to an abuse of citizens’ rights.

Legal scholar Dr Charles Omole said there is no law in Nigeria that expressly authorises the police to confiscate or hold a visitor’s phone simply for entering a police station to report a crime.

He described the practice as an administrative habit rather than a legally grounded policy.

Omole acknowledged that limited restrictions on phone use may be justified in specific areas such as interrogation rooms for security reasons. Even then, he argued, such restrictions should involve asking visitors to keep their phones unused, not surrendering them.

He added that the routine collection of phones has become common across many government offices despite lacking legal backing.

Human rights lawyer Festus Ogun went further, describing the police spokesperson’s claim as misleading.

He cited a 2025 judgment of the Oyo State High Court in Falujo v EFCC, where the court held that security agencies have no legal right to seize visitors’ phones or electronic devices as a condition for accessing their offices.

According to him, the court ruled such actions illegal and unconstitutional, as they violate the right to privacy guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution.

The controversy has gained traction on social media, reflecting a broader public concern about the balance between security procedures and civil liberties.

While security agencies argue that restrictions are necessary to protect investigations and personnel, critics insist that any limitation on personal property must be clearly backed by law and applied with common sense..