Section 51 Nigeria Police Act

Section 51 of the Nigeria Police Act 2020 is about General conduct of the search. It is under Part VII (Powers of Police Officers) of the Act. It provides as follows:

(1) Reasonable effort shall be taken to minimise the embarrassment that a person or the person whose property is being searched may experience.

(2) The co-operation of the person to be searched shall be sought in every case.

(3) A forcible search may be used as a last resort only if it has been established that the person being searched is unwilling to co-operate or resists.

(4) The length of time for which a person or vehicle may be detained for a search depends on the circumstances, but this shall be within a reasonable time.

(5) Searches in public shall be restricted to superficial examination of outer clothing.

(6) Where it is considered necessary to conduct a more thorough search that requires a person to take off his cloth or headgear, it-
(a) shall be done out of public view and by an officer of the same sex with the person being searched; and
(b) may not be made in the presence of anyone of the. opposite sex unless the person being searched requests it.

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