…Says police action is a blatant attempt to intimidate citizens for exercising their legal rights

By Elizabeth Osayande & Ifunanya Ndigwe

Media Rights Agenda MRA has condemned the Delta State Police Command for summoning Comrade Victor Ojie, the leader of the Young Nigerian Rights Organization YNRO, following a Freedom of Information FOI request.

The summons was issued after the organization asked the State Ministry of Lands and Survey for records and petitions regarding land disputes in the Aniocha South Local Government Area.

In a statement released in Lagos, Deputy Executive Director of MRA Ayode Longe described the police invitation as a gross misuse of power.

Longe said that it is an alarming trend that the Nigeria Police Force, which is tasked with enforcing the law, has become the instrument for violating the rights of citizens under the Law. He noted that the FOI Act is a national law that grants every person a legal right to access information in the custody of any public institution.

The controversy began when the YNRO filed a request under the FOI Act 2011. Instead of the Ministry providing the information within the seven day limit, the Delta State Police Command issued a letter of invitation for Ojie to appear before the State Intelligence Department SID in Asaba.

The letter, signed by Second in Command of the SID Deputy Superintendent of Police Ojokoh Julius, directed the activist to meet with the Assistant Commissioner of Police on March 9, 2026.

Longe explained that for the Delta State Police to treat a civil request for information made under the Law to a public institution as a criminal matter over which it is issuing an invitation to the requester to report to the Police is a deeply troubling development. He added that MRA considers it not only as an act of professional ignorance but a deliberate assault on the legal and constitutional rights of Nigerians.

The Deputy Executive Director further pointed out that under Section 1 2 of the FOI Act, an applicant does not need to demonstrate any specific interest in the information being requested.

Longe stated that this incident is a classic example of a culture of impunity within the Police that MRA has consistently documented and decried. He said that by summoning Ojie, the Delta State Police Command is sending a chilling message to members of the public that asking questions about land disputes or any other matter could be treated as a crime that would warrant interrogation.

MRA called on the Commissioner of Police in Delta State and the Inspector General of Police to immediately withdraw the summons.

The organization also urged Attorney General of the Federation to intervene and call the command to order. Longe noted that the Police has a legal and moral duty to ensure compliance with the FOI request as mandated by law.