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What To Do Immediately After An Arrest By The Police!
“You’re under arrest.”
In that moment, panic sets in and many people make costly mistakes. But what you do immediately after arrest can determine how the entire case unfolds.
You’re picked up at a checkpoint, your office, or your home.
Voices rise. Pressure builds.
An officer says:
“Just cooperate and explain yourself.”
You start talking freely.
👉 That is where many people lose control of their legal position.
Under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999:
Section 35 → Right to personal liberty
Section 36(6)(c) → Right to legal representation
Section 36(5) → Presumption of innocence
👉 These rights apply immediately upon arrest.
⚖️ What to do immediately after an arrest
✅ 1. Stay calm—do not resist
Do not fight or argue physically
Resistance can lead to additional charges
✅ 2. Ask for the reason for your arrest
You are entitled to know “What offence you are alleged to have committed?”
✅ 3. Exercise your right to remain silent
You are not obligated to:
Answer questions
Make statements immediately
Anything you say can be used against you.
✅ 4. Request a lawyer immediately
Under the Constitution, you have the right to:
Consult a legal practitioner of your choice
Do not give detailed statements without legal advice.
✅ 5. Avoid signing any document blindly
Read carefully
Do not sign under pressure
Insist on legal review
✅ 6. Inform a trusted person
You have the right to:
Contact family or a friend
Let someone know your location
In Fawehinmi v. IGP, the court emphasized that
law enforcement must operate within constitutional limits.
Your rights do not disappear because you are arrested.
⚠️ What NOT to do
❌ Don’t panic
❌ Don’t volunteer unnecessary information
❌ Don’t resist arrest
❌ Don’t rely on verbal assurances alone
A single statement made under pressure without a lawyer can be used to build a case against you even if you are innocent.
Arrest is not conviction. It is the beginning of a legal process and your actions at that stage are critical.
Know your rights before you ever need them
Stay calm and assert your rights lawfully
Contact a lawyer immediately
Save this post or send it to someone who needs to be informed.
In law, what you do in the first few hours after arrest can shape the outcome of your entire case.
©️ Chinenye Nwaosho