Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has condemned the summons issued by the Nigeria Police Force in Delta State to a civil society activist over a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act, describing the action as a misuse of power and an attempt to intimidate citizens exercising their lawful rights.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Wednesday, the organisation criticised the Delta State Police Command for inviting Comrade Victor Ojie, leader of the Young Nigerian Rights Organization (YNRO), to report to the State Intelligence Department (SID) in Asaba following a Freedom of Information request submitted to the Delta State Ministry of Lands and Survey.
The request sought access to petitions and records relating to land disputes in Aniocha South Local Government Area of the state.
MRA described the police invitation as a blatant attempt to harass a citizen for exercising his legal right to request information from a public institution under the FOI Act.
According to the organisation, rather than complying with the law by providing the requested information within the statutory seven-day period or formally declining the request where justified, the ministry allegedly involved the police, resulting in the summons issued to Ojie.
In a letter titled “Letter of Invitation” dated March 3, 2026, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Ojokoh Julius, second-in-command of the State Intelligence Department in Asaba, reportedly directed Ojie to meet with the Assistant Commissioner of Police, SID, on Monday, March 9, 2026, regarding the information request.
The letter referenced Ojie’s correspondence titled “Freedom of Information Request Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, Request for Access to Petitions and Records Relating to Land Disputes in Aniocha South LGA.”
Reacting to the development, MRA’s Deputy Executive Director, Ayode Longe, said the action by the police raises serious concerns about respect for citizens’ rights under the FOI Act.
“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,” Longe said.
He noted that the FOI Act grants every person a legal right to access information held by public institutions and does not require applicants to demonstrate any specific interest in the information requested.
According to him, treating a civil information request as a criminal matter and summoning the requester for questioning represents a troubling disregard for the law.
Longe also pointed out that the FOI Act clearly outlines the circumstances under which public institutions may deny access to requested information and provides procedures for doing so, stressing that police summons is not one of the lawful channels provided by the Act.
Describing the incident as part of a wider pattern of abuse of authority, he said the summons could create a chilling effect by discouraging citizens from seeking accountability from public institutions.
“This incident reflects a culture of impunity within the police and sends a dangerous message that asking questions about public matters could be treated as a crime,” he said.
MRA therefore called on the Delta State Commissioner of Police and the Inspector-General of Police to immediately withdraw the summons and ensure that Ojie and other officials of the Young Nigerian Rights Organization are not subjected to further harassment.
The organisation also urged the Attorney-General of the Federation to intervene in the matter in his capacity as the chief law officer responsible for overseeing the implementation of the FOI Act and ensuring compliance by public institutions.
MRA stressed that the police, as a law enforcement agency, has both a legal and moral responsibility to uphold the provisions of the FOI Act, particularly as wrongful denial of access to information constitutes an offence under the law.
