The Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Egbetokun, NPM, the Commissioner of Police for Delta State, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, has issued a firm order across the command: all suspects arrested for bailable offences must be granted bail immediately and unconditionally.
This was disclosed in a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) by the Police Public Relations Officer for Delta State, Bright Edafe, on Wednesday, June 18.
The statement reads in part, “the Inspector General of Police IGP Kayode Egbetokun Phd NPM, the Commissioner of Police Delta State CP Olufemi Abaniwonda has issued a firm directive to DPOs and officers of the command that henceforth all suspects involved in bailable offenses such as simple offenses or misdemeanors should be granted bail unconditionally and they must not be made to sleep in the cell.”
To ensure compliance, the CP urged members of the public to report breaches via WhatsApp to 09011112311, including full details of the incident, his office announced.
Earlier this year, IGP Kayode Egbetokun issued a nationwide warning to police personnel against prolonged detention without cause, reaffirming that suspects charged with bailable offences are entitled to immediate bail.
In Delta State specifically, the launch of the “Bail is Free Campaign” followed the unlawful detention and alleged extortion of two bricklayers, Henry Umukoro and Godfrey Jonah who were arrested in April 2025 and charged bail fees of ₦500,000. Their case sparked protests outside the Delta Command headquarters in Asaba.
Following mounting public pressure, CP Abaniwonda not only issued refunds to the affected duo but also initiated disciplinary inquiries into the officers responsible.
The instruction enshrines constitutional rights: Nigerian law guarantees presumption of innocence and the right to bail for less serious offences. It addresses the issue of illegal detention and extortion, which had eroded public trust and led to high-profile protests in Delta.
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