NewStats: 3,262,359 , 8,176,919 topics. Date: Sunday, 01 June 2025 at 11:18 PM 1y3j

Abuja based legal practitioner, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has faulted the arrest and detention of Lagos based singer, Habeeb Okikiola aka Portable by operatives of the Nigeria Police over debt related matters.

The lawyer insisted that police missed the track and went out of its statutory functions as the law does not confer power to arrest over debt on the agency.

Portable was widely reported to have been arrested by the police in Lagos over his inability to pay for a G-Wagon vehicle he purchased from a motor stand.

Reacting to the development in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, the lawyer said that although Portable may be troublesome, his arrest and the method of debt recovery employed by the Nigerian Police Force was in blatant disregard to the country’s laws.

“The mode of arrest highlights the deteriorating state of the Nigerian Police force. It’s crucial to note that indebtedness is not a criminal offense, even the Nigerian government has debts.

“The courts have consistently emphasized that the police should refrain from involvement in civil matters such as debt recovery or contractual disputes, unless there are allegations of fraud, such as obtaining under false pretenses, cheating, or criminal breach of trust.

“Under Section 32(2) of the Police Act 2020, arrests based solely on civil wrongs or breaches of contract are expressly prohibited.

“In the case of Oceanic Securities Int. Ltd. Vs Balogun & Ors (2012) LPELR-9218 (CA), the Court of Appeal reiterated this stance by affirming that ‘the police have no role in enforcing debt settlements or recovering civil debts for banks or any entity.’

“Similarly, in KURE Vs Commissioner of Police (2020) LPELR-49378(SC), the Supreme Court emphasized that ‘the police is not a debt recovery agency and should not intervene in contractual disputes arising from purely civil transactions.’

“Additionally, the Court of Appeal, in Imam & Another Vs USMAN & Another (2023) LPELR-60203(CA), reiterated this position,”

the lawyer stated.

Olajengbesi therefore pleaded with the Nigerian Police Force not to reduce its esteem but to always act within the ambit of the law that established it.

DAILY POST

How you go carry clear eye give portable motor for credit

Damnnn!!!!

Big Smoke Pelu Tobacco.... 💔

Make pesin epp me complete am...



True true, The Police has Lost its credibility. Police Department has never been a Debt Recovery Department!



Where bobrisky?? 😂😂... She/he for don talk 😹

Knowing fully well that Nigeria legal system simply doesn't work or will take centuries

So if they start fighting each other physically and start constituting nuisance in the society that will be better than involving police, right?

Can he sue police to see if you can get money to clear his debt?

Nigeria is a zoo according to nnamdi kanu... But why portable go dey buy g wagon on credit , portable fk Big time

Yes. It's true.

However, why would the Portable jumped fence like that untop an old car. Couldn't he agree on payment or returns the car. Even Nigeria dey owe.

Could it be a stunt, staged or he's that classless

You that have been displaying wealth, properties upandan..

Exactly..Nigerian Police foolish

oluwaseyi0:
Nonsense lawyer

The lawyer is right.

Lawyer is on point . Nigeria is a stupid country

Dear Lawyer,since indebtness isn't a criminal offence, kindly educate me on how to recover my funds from an heartless debtor who refuses to pay?

TO LEND SOMEONE MONEY IS HUMAN, BUT TO PAY BACK IS DIVINE

Odewaleadesoye:
Abuja based legal practitioner, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has faulted the arrest and detention of Lagos based singer, Habeeb Okikiola aka Portable by operatives of the Nigeria Police over debt related matters.

The lawyer insisted that police missed the track and went out of its statutory functions as the law does not confer power to arrest over debt on the agency.

Portable was widely reported to have been arrested by the police in Lagos over his inability to pay for a G-Wagon vehicle he purchased from a motor stand.

Reacting to the development in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, the lawyer said that although Portable may be troublesome, his arrest and the method of debt recovery employed by the Nigerian Police Force was in blatant disregard to the country’s laws.

the lawyer stated.

Olajengbesi therefore pleaded with the Nigerian Police Force not to reduce its esteem but to always act within the ambit of the law that established it.

DAILY POST

Smh. See nonsense unsolicited advice.

Please don't mess up this guy's case like one guy did with the tomato paste matter that ordinarily should have ended with apology and sincere explanation of an unintended harm.


Police arrested Portable on the strength of the petition of his victim against him claiming that Portable defrauded him. To defraud is a crime , it's not same as debt recovery matter. It's even possible that the one who sold the car to Portable may not even own the car but just a middle man. I know someone who fell to this fraud and had to cough out the balance to the owner of the car he helped to clear and sell to a 'Pastor' who ended up defrauding him. My acquaintance was detained by the police when his client reported him to the police yet the 'Pastor ' he sold the car to had suddenly gone incommunicado.
Portable should just pay the balance if he doesn't want to land into a bigger problem.

May God bless Nigeria for ever! Check my signature for free stuffs!

The Police are not and should not in any community of civilized people be used as debt or levy collectors, or in the resolution or settlement of disputes amongst people, as such use of Policemen often lead to infringement on the fundamental rights of others

Believe all social media pressure at your own risk... It is a gonna

Ok

This nonsense happens across the country and people ignorantly think it is normal. What's police business with debts recovery? In the first instance, is owing money a criminal offence? E go tey before this country go get head o.

Actually true. Police have no business with civil cases

Nigerian police is everything in a dysfunction society like Nigeria.

The judge, the jury, the criminal, they even play God sometimes, Nigerian police need serious overhauling and reorientation

💯!

Touts sabi law? 9ja police is not different from touts.

A

Somebody business.Mr lawyer shift abeg

Make them put Portable in the same jail room with Bob
Make we watch small fight


@topic...
one hungry lawyer wan chop portable money with style

Wetin make e nor pay im debt? Abi after brotherhood don dash am motor e still want make brotherhood clear im bashi.

No be so brotherhood be, a debt is a debt and brotherhood don’t owe debts

Lawyers are liars

Believe all social media pressure at your own risk... It is a gonna....

F

This lawyer no know he work. But there was valid court warrant of arrest and he was politely shown and told to follow them to the station. The police had to handle and bundle him cos he tried to escape or evade arrest.

jmoore:
Touts sabi law? 9ja police is not different from touts.

Which law are you talking about?
Did you read the part where a warrant was issued for his arrest,by a competent Court of law?
Na who go carry out that arrest?

My sentiments exactly. I don't understand why the Nigerian Police always have to condescend to such lows. It is a purely civil matter. You even went to get warrant. Ha!

This is a country where Yahaya Bello went through you lots and escaped o

oluwaseyi0:
Nonsense lawyer

So if they start fighting each other physically and start constituting nuisance in the society that will be better than involving police, right?

So he was arrested to prevent fight from starting. Read what you just typed, Listen to yourself, how do you think you sound? Debt matter is a civil matter.
The only way out for police in this is to cook up charges of fraud. If na just debt as dem talk, it is a civil case and and no ne should be detained.