Senate rejects proposal to regulate private investigators in Nigeria

…Cite concerns over potential misuse, lack of necessity

The Nigerian Senate has decisively voted against a bill aimed at establishing a regulatory framework for private investigators in the country.

The bill, introduced by Senator Osita Ngwu (PDP, Enugu West), sought to licence and regulate the profession, but faced significant opposition during discussions in the Red Chamber.

Senator Ngwu, who serves as the Senate Minority Whip, articulated the bill’s objectives, emphasising its intent to professionalise private investigations.

He noted that in several developed countries, such as the United Kingdom and the United States, private investigation is a regulated field that contributes to fraud prevention and corporate risk management.

“The objectives of the bill include fraud prevention, detection, and resolution; insurance fraud investigation; and various safety incident investigations,” he explained.

Despite these points, the bill was met with scepticism. Senators including Adams Oshiomhole and Iya Abbas criticised it as a potential “recipe for personal vendettas.”

The debate highlighted concerns over the implications of licensing private investigators and the possible misuse of such powers.

Recall that Senate President Godswill Akpabio, recognising the divisions in opinion, urged Senator Ngwu to withdraw the bill for further legislative refinement, a suggestion he promptly accepted.