Looting: ‘House-to-house search illegal without court order’

A house-to-house search for looted relief or other materials, without a valid search warrant duly issued by a court of law, is unconstitutional, a civil society organisation has said.

Access to Justice, said on Thursday that under Nigeria’s Constitution, no state governor has the right to order a house-to-house search of any residential or other building.

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According to Joseph Otteh, director, A2J, to search a house, the state would need a search warrant issued by a court, in accordance with the various laws of each state.

Many governors have ordered a house-to-house search for looted items in their respective states following the looting spree that took place across the country recently.

For example, Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, signed an Executive Order on Wednesday authorizing a house-to-house search for items looted from public and private warehouses during the EndSARS protest.

The governor had, on Tuesday, given a 12-hour ultimatum, which lasted till 6 am on Wednesday, for looters to return the items they carted away from public and private warehouses.