• Intensify third-party insurance compliance

Spokesman for Nigeria Police Force, Muyiwa Adejobi, has reminded Nigerians about the legal repercussions of resisting or obstructing public officers carrying out official duties.

In a statement, yesterday, Adejobi encouraged the public to familiarise themselves with pertinent laws, warning that anyone who obstructs or resists officers while performing their official duties would be guilty of a misdemeanour and risked imprisonment for up to two years under Section 197 of the Criminal Code Act.

Penalties for such offences, according to him, are also outlined in the Police Act 2020. He said when called upon, civilians were required by Section 42 to help judges, magistrates and police officers to make a valid arrest or stop a suspect from escaping.

The statement titled, ‘Know The Law and be Guided’, reads: “Any person who, in any manner, obstructs or resists any public officer while engaged in the discharge or attempted discharge of the duties of his office under any order, Act, law, or statute, or obstructs or resists any person while engaged in the discharge or attempted discharge of any duty imposed on him by order, Act, law, or statute, is guilty of a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for two years.

“Section 42 of the Police Act 2020, says a person is bound to assist a judge, magistrate, police officer or other person reasonably demanding his aid in arresting or preventing the escape of a suspect whom the judge, magistrate, police officer or other person is authorised to arrest.

“Section 98 Police Act 2020 says a person, who assaults, obstructs or resists a police officer in the discharge of his duty, or aids or incites any other person to assault, obstruct or resist a police officer or other person aiding or assisting the police officer in the discharge of his duty, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N500,000 or imprisonment for a term of six months or both,” among others.

ADEJOBI spoke, just as the Inspector-General of Police (IG), Kayode Egbetokun, declared that the NPF would begin enforcing third-party insurance for vehicle owners nationwide.

A statement by Adejobi at the weekend said the IG spoke when he received the management of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), led by the Commissioner for Insurance, Olusegun Omosehin.

He quoted Egbetokun as noting that Section 68 of the Insurance Act and Section 312 of the 1945 Motor Vehicle (Third Party Insurance) Act mandated all vehicle owners to possess third-party insurance before operating vehicles on public roads.

The IG urged Nigerians to comply with the laws, adding that violations would be punished by imprisonment, fines, or both. Earlier, the commissioner congratulated the IG on his achievements, particularly the establishment of the Police Insurance Bank Ltd.

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