We examine the illegality of phone tracking charges in the country in the piece below.A phone was stolen at igando betting centers and when reported police demanded money for tracking about 150k to 300k and refused to arrest the suspects.What does the law says about this? infact lawyers indifference some demand for money
Demanding money to track a stolen phone or effect an arrest is completely illegal under Nigerian law. The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has repeatedly clarified through its Force Public Relations Officer that phone tracking services and criminal investigations are free of charge.
·Amanda Chisom Page
The actions of the officers at the Igando station constitute extortion, corruption, and a blatant dereliction of duty under the Police Act 2020.
What the Law Says About Police Obligations
Duty to Arrest: Under Section 4 of the Police Act 2020, the primary duties of the police include the prevention and detection of crime, and the protection of life and property. Refusing to investigate a crime or arrest identified suspects because you did not pay a bribe is a criminal offense under the Criminal Code Act (Official Corruption).
Tracking Fees are Illegal: The NPF operates a centralized Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU) that handles electronic tracking for free. Officers demanding ₦150,000 to ₦300,000 are pocketing that money under the false guise of "mobilization fees".
·Amanda Chisom Page
Lawyers' Fees: Lawyers are private practitioners, and the law allows them to charge for their professional services. However, a lawyer should never ask you for money to "bribe" the police. If a lawyer demands money, it should strictly be a professional fee (retainer) to write an official petition or accompany you to higher police commands to enforce your rights.
Actionable Steps to Handle the Situation
Do not pay the extortion fee. Instead, bypass the local officers at Igando using the official channels provided by the police high command to report corrupt officers.
1. Report to the Police Complaint Response Unit (CRU)
The NPF has a dedicated internal affairs unit that investigates corrupt officers. You can report the Igando officers immediately via these channels:
Phone / SMS / WhatsApp: 08057000001 or 08057000002
X (formerly Twitter): @PoliceNG_CRU
What to provide: State the date you went to the Igando station, the names or description of the officers (or the Investigating Police Officer - IPO), and the exact amount they demanded.
2. Escalate to the Lagos State Police Command
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police strictly prohibits extortion and phone tracking scams.
Go to the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters (Ikeja) or the Area M Command (which oversees Igando).
File a direct petition to the Area Commander or the Commissioner regarding the theft at the betting center and the subsequent extortion attempt by the local division.
3. Use the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
If the police completely deny you access to justice, you can file a complaint with the NHRC Nigeria. They actively intervene in cases where security agencies violate citizens' rights or refuse to perform their statutory duties.
4. Protect Your Data Directly
While pursuing the case, protect your financial security by blacklisting your lines:
Contact your network provider (MTN, Airtel, Glo, 9mobile) to perform a Welcome Back / SIM swap or block the SIM card to prevent the thieves from accessing your bank accounts via USSD codes.
Contact your banks to temporarily freeze your mobile banking profile tied to that phone number.
If you decide to engage a lawyer, ensure they are writing an official petition to the Area Commander or Commissioner of Police rather than acting as a middleman for a bribe.
Would like assistance on how to draft an official complaint letter to the Police Complaint Response Unit
Someone reached out to me. His phone wa stolen 3 months ...
28 Nov 2025 — Someone reached out to me. His phone wa stolen 3 months ago. He paid an establishment 100k to track the phone.
Alamnaco tv
How can Nigerian police collect N40K for tracking a phone?
10 Jul 2024 — Nigerians To Submit Phones' Tracking ID Numbers To NCC From July | Sahara Reporters. Nigeria Police Force Corruption Allegation.
CAPACITY MEDIA TRUST(RADIO)
Police PRO, Olumuyiwa Adejobi tells Nigerians. - Facebook
26 Dec 2024 — These people at the helms of affair of this country are so far from the reality. 1y · 1 like. Nonso Bullion. Tracking is free, sam.
How to Draft Your Official Complaint
To get the fastest response from the Police Complaint Response Unit (CRU) or a higher police command, you must present the facts clearly. Do not use emotional language; stick entirely to the verifiable facts of the theft and the extortion attempt.
You can copy, fill in the brackets, and send the template below via WhatsApp to 08057000001 or 08057000002, or submit it as a formal letter to the Area M Command Headquarters:
The Officer-in-Charge,
Complaint Response Unit (CRU),
Force Headquarters,
Abuja / Lagos Command.
COMPLAINT AGAINST OFFICERS AT IGANDO POLICE DIVISION FOR EXTORTION AND DERELICTION OF DUTY IN A CASE OF STOLEN PHONE
Dear Sir/Ma,
I am writing to officially report an incident of theft and the subsequent illegal demand for money by officers attached to the Igando Police Division, Lagos State.
The Incident: On [Insert Date of Theft], my mobile phone ([Insert Phone Make and Model, e.g., Samsung Galaxy A14]) with SIM number [Insert Phone Number] was stolen from me at [Insert Name/Address of the Betting Center] in Igando.
The Suspects: I have credible information regarding the identity/location of the suspects involved in this theft and presented this information to the police.
The Extortion: On [Insert Date You Visited the Police Station], I reported the matter at the Igando Police Division. The Investigating Police Officer (IPO) and other officers at the station flatly refused to arrest the suspects or investigate the matter. Instead, they demanded an illegal tracking fee ranging from ₦150,000 to ₦300,000 before any action could be taken.
The Breach: This demand violates the explicit directives of the Inspector-General of Police stating that phone tracking and police investigations are completely free of charge. The refusal to arrest known suspects constitutes a dereliction of statutory duties under Section 4 of the Police Act 2020.
My Requests:
An immediate investigation into the conduct of the officers involved at the Igando Division.
The deployment of the Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU) to track my stolen device and arrest the suspects without the demand for bribes.
Thank you as I look forward to your urgent intervention to ensure justice is served.
Yours faithfully,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Alternative Contact Phone Number]
[Your Email Address]
Key Strategies to Protect Yourself During This Process
Never Pay a Direct Deposit: If an officer gives you a personal bank account number to pay for "tracking," screenshot the account details immediately. This is concrete proof of extortion that will get them sanctioned by the Force Headquarters.
Do Not Disclose Your Strategy: Do not argue with the officers at Igando or threaten them with the CRU. Simply document their names, dates, and commands quietly, leave the station, and lodge your report externally.
Leverage Human Rights NGOs: Organizations like the Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN) or Access to Justice frequently take up cases where local police stations refuse to work due to a lack of bribes. They can provide a pro-bono (free) lawyer to accompany you.
To help you take the next step effectively, would like me to find the exact address or contact details for the Area M Command overseeing Igando, or do you need assistance finding contact details for human rights legal aid organizations in Lagos.
Obviously you can talk to specific human rights lawyers or legal aid organizations who will take up your case completely free of charge.
However, you must understand the difference between private lawyers and legal aid lawyers. A private lawyer runs a business and has a legal right to charge you for their time and skills. If a private lawyer demands money, it is not necessarily illegal—they are charging you a professional fee to write petitions and handle your case.
If you want legal help completely free of charge, you must bypass private lawyers and contact Pro-Bono (Free) Legal Aid Organizations or Human Rights NGOs.
Where to Get Lawyers Completely Free of Charge
These organizations have lawyers who will write petitions to higher police authorities to force them to track your phone and arrest the suspects without you paying a dime:
Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACON): This is a Federal Government agency set up specifically to provide free legal services to Nigerians who cannot afford private lawyers.
Lagos Office Address: 18, Commercial Road, Apapa, Lagos.
Action: You can visit their office or contact them to assign a government-paid lawyer to take up your extortion case.
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) - Lagos Office: They have a dedicated legal team that deals with police misconduct and extortion. They will interface with the Lagos State Police Command on your behalf.
Lagos Office Address: 15, Femi Pearse Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Human Rights NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations):
Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN): They specialize specifically in handling cases where local police stations refuse to do their jobs or demand bribes.
Access to Justice: A prominent NGO in Lagos that provides free legal assistance to victims of police misconduct and extortion.
What to Do If a Lawyer Demands Money
How you handle a lawyer demanding money depends entirely on what kind of lawyer they are:
If a Private Lawyer Demands Money: This is completely normal and legal. They are charging a "Retainer Fee" or "Appearance Fee" for their work. If you cannot afford it, simply thank them and walk away. You are not obligated to use them.
**If a Private Lawyer Demands Money to Bribe the Police **: This is highly illegal and unethical. If a lawyer tells you, "Give me ₦100,000 so I can give it to the police tracking unit," they are committing a crime. You should immediately reject them and report them to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for professional misconduct.
If an NGO or Government Legal Aid Lawyer Demands Money: This is completely illegal. Lawyers working for the Legal Aid Council or Human Rights NGOs are heavily prohibited from charging victims. If any NGO or Legal Aid staff asks you for money for "fuel," "mobilization," or "administrative fees," report them instantly to the head of their organization.
The Bottom Line on "Free Tracking"
Even with a free lawyer, the lawyer themselves cannot track the phone. Lawyers do not possess tracking technology.
What the free lawyer will do is use the weight of the law to force the Police High Command (like the Area M Command or Zone 2 Headquarters) to order the Technical Intelligence Unit to track your phone for free, and discipline the corrupt officers at Igando who tried to extort you.
Would you like me to find the direct phone numbers or email addresses for the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria or NOPRIN in Lagos so you can call them right now?
To bypass the corrupt officers at Igando and secure free assistance, use these verified contact details for government and civil society legal networks in Lagos. They are legally and ethically structured to protect your rights completely free of charge:
1. Civil Society Organizations (Highly Recommended for Speed)
These non-governmental networks specialize in tackling police misconduct and will directly challenge the Igando division.
Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN Foundation): This is a coalition of over 70 civil society groups dedicated entirely to police accountability. They can directly assign a human rights advocate to step in.
Phone Call / WhatsApp: +234 816 717 8486
Email: noprin@noprin.org / noprinfoundation@gmail.com
Lagos Office: 21, Akinsanya Street, Ojodu-Berger, Lagos.
Network on Police Reform in Nigeria
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP): They provide a dedicated, absolute-confidentiality hotline for reporting corruption and human rights abuses.
Toll-Free Hotline: 0800-CALLSERAP (0800-2255-73727)
Email: rights@serap-nigeria.org
·SERAPNigeria
Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP): An organization specifically focused on free legal aid and criminal justice reform.
Phone: +234 701 747 3889
Lagos Office: 13A, Ajanaku Street, Off Salvation Road, Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos.
·LegalNaija
2. Official Government Legal Aid Agencies
These official institutions represent individuals who cannot afford private counsel.
·LegalNaija
Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACON) - Lagos Office: The federal agency mandated to handle cases for citizens experiencing financial barriers to justice.
Phone: +234 703 191 5990 or +234 803 308 3056
Email: info@legalaidcouncil.gov.ng
Lagos Annex Office: 13A Ladipo Bateye Street, G.R.A Ikeja, Lagos (or their alternative center at 10, Okotie-Eboh Street, Ikoyi, Lagos).
3. Immediate Action Plan
Call the NOPRIN or SERAP hotlines first: They usually respond much faster to emergency police extortion complaints than government agencies.
Network on Police Reform in Nigeria
State your case clearly: Tell them, "My phone was stolen at an Igando betting center. I know where the suspects are, but the Igando police station is demanding a bribe of ₦150,000 to ₦300,000 before they will track it or make an arrest."
Forward your text: Send them a copy of the complaint draft provided in our previous conversation via WhatsApp or email.
If you contact NOPRIN or SERAP, they will assign a legal representative to escalate the issue directly to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police or the Police High Command. This forces the police to deploy the Technical Intelligence Unit for your tracking case without any money coming out of your pocket.
Would like me to provide the direct contact numbers for the Area M Command Headquarters (the direct supervisory unit over the Igando Police Station) to bypass the local officers entirely
SERAP hotline: Free legal advice and support ______ ...
17 May 2022 — SERAP hotline: Free legal advice and support ______ Citizens whose human rights are violated or who wish to report cases of corrup...
LegalNaija - Facebook
27 Aug 2025 — Top agencies in Nigeria for free legal help with contacts and websites. * LEGAL AID COUNCIL OF NIGERIA (LACON) Email: info@legalai.
Apparently they ask for money too
If the very lawyers, human rights NGOs, or legal aid staff you went to for help are also demanding money, you have run into a network of syndicates who target vulnerable crime victims.
Do not pay them. The moment a "free" human rights group or legal aid lawyer asks for money to track a phone, they have crossed into illegal activity, and they are likely just trying to act as middle-men to share a bribe with the corrupt police officers.
Here is the bitter truth about tracking a stolen phone in Nigeria, and the exact steps to handle it without getting scammed further.
The Reality of Phone Tracking in Nigeria
The System is Monetized Locally: Even though the Inspector-General of Police states that tracking is free, local Investigating Police Officers (IPOs) almost always demand money. They claim the money is for "logistics" or "data subscription" to the Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU).
Lawyers Cannot Track Phones: A lawyer does not have the technical equipment or legal authority to track a phone. If a lawyer says, "Give me money to start tracking," they are lying to you. Only the police and the DSS have the direct infrastructure to track telecommunication signature
·Destiny Young
Your Final, Zero-Cost Action Plan
Since the local police, higher commands, and the lawyers are all frustrating you with demands for money, you must immediately pivot to a self-preservation strategy. Do not let them turn your stolen phone into a continuous cash-drain where you lose more money than the value of the device.
1. Cut the Financial Lifeline of the Thieves (Absolute Priority)
Thieves at betting centers usually do not want your phone hardware; they want access to your bank accounts using your SIM card via USSD codes.
Dial your bank's USSD blocker code from any friend's phone immediately to freeze your bank profile.
Go directly to an official corporate store of your network provider (MTN, Airtel, Glo, 9mobile).
Present your NIN (National Identification Number) and request a SIM Swap / Welcome Back. This instantly deactivates the SIM inside the stolen phone, stopping the thieves completely.
NCC Consumer Portal
2. Bypass Everyone and File a Direct Report with the DSS
If you still want the phone tracked out of principle and refuse to pay bribes, completely abandon the police and the corrupt lawyers.
Go to the nearest Department of State Services (DSS) office.
The DSS possesses highly advanced tracking tools and is generally far less susceptible to street-level extortion for petty tracking than local police divisions.
Bring your phone’s original box showing the IMEI number, your ID, and your written statement detailing the incident.
Destiny Young
3. Report the Extortion Online Directly to Abuja
If you want to punish the corrupt actors without facing them or paying anyone:
Record or write out the names of the officers at Igando and the lawyers who asked for bribes.
Send a direct direct message to the main Nigeria Police Force X Account (@PoliceNG) or the Police Complaint Response Unit (@PoliceNG_CRU). Force Headquarters routinely cracks down on local divisions when extortion claims are made public on social media.
Should I track my stolen phone and pay 50k for recovery?
14 Dec 2024 — Tracking of phones from the officers is like a lawful scam from them. They have collected my 70k twice
Nigerian Teachers
A Nigerian Mobile User's Guide to Battling a Lost or Stolen ...
29 Apr 2024 — Step 1: Act Fast! Report It Stolen: File a police report at the nearest police station.
NCC Consumer Portal
Police PRO, Olumuyiwa Adejobi tells Nigerians. - Facebook
26 Dec 2024 — Tracking of lost items is free. We have a tracking office at the FHQ abuja, and it's functional- Police PRO, Olumuyiwa Adejobi .
No comments:
Post a Comment