Police dismiss officer for ‘searching phone of commuter by roadside’

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has dismissed one Opeyemi Kadiri, a corporal attached to Dolphin divisional headquarters, Lagos command.

A video, which captured the officer assaulting a person who challenged him for searching a commuter’s mobile phone, went viral on social media earlier in August.

Officers have been warned against indiscriminate search of mobile phones belonging to motorists and passengers.

In a statement on Friday, Muyiwa Adejobi, NPF spokesman, said Kadiri’s action is contrary to the order of the inspector-general of police (IGP) on search of mobile phones of commuters. 

“The dismissed officer, who enlisted into the Force on 6th December, 2016, was caught searching a commuter’s phone by the roadside, contrary to the directives of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc(+), NPM, fdc, to that effect,” the statement reads.

“He equally assaulted the commuter who attempted to bring the order to his notice.

“His dismissal takes effect from today, the 12th of August, 2022.

“The Police hereby calls on officers and men of the Force to maintain professionalism and civility to members of the public in the discharge of their duties in line with extant laws.

“The Force equally calls on members of the public to ensure proper conduct in all encounters with police officers to avoid infractions which may be subject to prosecution.”

With Kadiri’s dismissal, the NPF has laid off three officers within one week over “gross misconduct”.

TheCable had reported how the NPF dismissed one Liyomo Okoi, a police constable, over “gross misconduct”, and Richard Gele, a police inspector, who was captured in a video “justifying extortion”.