Arrested in Nigeria? Your Rights at the Police Station — and How to Get Help Fast

A legal emergency rarely gives warning. One moment life is normal; the next, someone you love is being held at a police station, and no one in the family knows what to do. In those first hours, the difference between a quick release and a long, unlawful detention often comes down to one thing: whether you can reach a lawyer.

This is exactly the moment Podus was built for. We help people turn fear into a clear next step — including how to call a lawyer and get free legal support when it matters most.

Know your rights the moment you are detained

Under the Nigerian Constitution and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, a person who is arrested has rights that the police are bound to respect. In plain terms:

• You have the right to remain silent and to avoid self-incrimination.
• You have the right to be informed of the reason for your arrest, in a language you understand.
• You have the right to a lawyer, and to contact your family or a relation.
• You should be charged to court within a constitutionally reasonable time — not held indefinitely.
• Bail for ordinary offences is a right, and at the police level it is meant to be free.

Knowing these rights is the first form of protection. Enforcing them is where a lawyer comes in.

The safety net Nigeria has been missing

In some countries, anyone held at a station can ask for a duty solicitor — a legal aid solicitor on call to advise detainees for free. Nigeria has no widespread police duty solicitor scheme, so most people are left to face the station alone. Podus exists to fill that gap: a way to reach a volunteer lawyer quickly, so no one has to navigate a detention without advice.

When a legal emergency becomes a human rights matter

Not every detention is lawful. Extortion, brutality, and detention without charge are not just wrong — they are human rights abuse. Our work has always prioritised these cases, and human rights advocacy is central to what Podus and Citizens’ Gavel do. Where a person’s fundamental rights have been violated, we help document what happened and pursue the right complaint against those responsible.

That combination — fast help in the moment, and advocacy afterwards — is how a single frightening night can end in justice rather than silence.

If you or someone you know is facing a legal emergency, reach us at podus.org.