EFCC: Law Enforcement Officers Can Break Into Houses If Suspects Resist Arrest

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has disclosed that it is legal for its operatives to break into any house if suspects resist arrest.

This was made known by the commission in its monthly e-magazine of EFCC Alert, citing sections of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) of 2015.

According to section 12(2) of the act, law enforcement officers have the right to enter any house forcefully as long as the suspect is confirmed to be there.

“Where access to a house or place cannot be obtained under subsection (1) of this section, the person or police officer may enter the house or place and search it for the suspect to be arrested, and in order to effect an entrance into the house or place, may break open any outer or inner door or window of any house or place, whether that of the suspect to be arrested or of any other person or otherwise affect entry into such house or place, if after notification of his authority and purpose, and demand of admittance duly made, he cannot obtain admittance,” EFCC said in the magazine.