ABUJA, Nigeria: CSP Aniete Iniedu has reminded members of the public that bail is free and that no police station is legally permitted to demand payment before granting bail.
Iniedu clarified this during an interview with media personality Nedu, in which he addressed concerns about paying bail at police stations across the country.
According to the police officer, many Nigerians often sign bail documents without reading them carefully. He explained that the forms clearly indicate that no payment was made for the bail process.
“Many people do not read the form they sign because it’s clearly stated there that I didn’t pay one single naira for this bail,” Iniedu said.
He added that people are often eager to leave the police station and therefore sign the documents without checking the information contained in them.
They said that Nigerian law does not permit anyone to demand payment for bail at a police station.
“The law doesn’t allow anybody to pay for bail in any police station in Nigeria,” he said.
What Nigerians Should Do If Asked To Pay
Iniedu urged Nigerians not to remain silent if a police officer demands money before granting bail.
He advised members of the public to make it clear that they intend to report the matter to the Inspector-General of Police.
“If you enter any police station to bail somebody and they ask for money, just tell them that you want to call the Inspector-General of Police (IGP),” he said.
According to Iniedu, members of the public can report alleged demands for payment through the following police contact channels:
Phone: 08057000001
Phone: 08057000002
WhatsApp/Text: 08057000003
He encouraged Nigerians who encounter such situations to report them promptly rather than paying money demanded for bail.
The clarification comes amid continuing concerns about alleged unofficial payments at police stations and the rights of suspects and their families during the bail process.
The officer’s message was clear: bail should not be treated as a service that Nigerians have to pay for at a police station.
Members of the public are therefore encouraged to read documents carefully before signing and to report any demand for payment connected to the bail process through the appropriate channels.
