A senior Nigerian police officer has again reminded citizens that bail is completely free, and that no police station has the right to demand money for it. Speaking in a video interview with media personality Nedu Wazobia, CSP Aniete Iniedu said many people sign bail documents without reading them, even though the forms clearly state that no payment was made for the process.
“The law doesn’t allow anybody to pay for bail in any police station in Nigeria,” Iniedu said. “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.”
Background: A Message Nigerians Have Heard Before
This is not the first time police officials have made this reminder. In June 2026, the Force Public Relations Officer also told Nigerians that bail is free under the law, and that no officer is permitted to demand money before releasing a suspect in a bailable offence. That statement came with a hotline, 080-570-00001, for citizens to report officers who demand money.
Despite these repeated reminders, many Nigerians say the practice on the ground has not changed. A recent investigation found that families across the country, including in the Federal Capital Territory, still report paying between ₦50,000 and ₦1 million to secure the release of a suspect, even though a police spokesperson in the FCT confirmed there are “no exemptions to the rule that bail is free at all police stations and formations across the country.”
Why the Gap Exists
Legal experts point out that the law is clear on this issue. Under the 1999 Constitution, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, and the Police Act 2020, bail is meant to be free, and suspects are expected to be charged in court within 24 to 48 hours or released.
In practice, officers at some stations still ask for so-called “mobilisation fees” for the Investigating Police Officer or “administrative charges” before releasing a suspect. Years of alleged extortion and reports of abuse at some police facilities have left many Nigerians distrustful of official assurances, even when those assurances are repeated on camera by senior officers.
How This Affects Nigeria
The gap between the law and what happens at police stations affects public trust in the police force nationwide. When citizens believe they must pay to secure a loved one’s release, it discourages people from reporting crimes or cooperating with investigations for fear of hidden costs. It also disproportionately affects poorer families, who may struggle to raise the amounts some officers demand, or who may be forced into debt to free a relative. Over time, this weakens confidence in the wider justice system and can discourage lawful reporting of extortion for fear of retaliation.
What Can Be Done
Officials have pointed to a few clear steps. Citizens are advised not to argue with officers at the station if asked for money, but instead to calmly state that they wish to contact the Inspector-General of Police, and to report the incident through the official complaint line, 080-570-00001.
Beyond individual reporting, stronger internal discipline within police formations, regular audits of stations with repeated complaints, and public education campaigns explaining exactly what bail should look like on paper could help close the gap between the law and everyday practice.
Why This Still Matters
Repeating a rule is not the same as enforcing it. Nigerians have heard “bail is free” many times before, yet the same complaints keep resurfacing month after month. For this message to mean anything, officers who break the law by demanding money must actually face consequences, and citizens must be confident that reporting them will not put them at further risk.
Until that trust is rebuilt, statements like this one, however well-intentioned, risk sounding like a familiar promise rather than a guarantee.
Published by Ejoh Caleb
