Section 171: Retarding delivery of telegrams or postal matter

Any person who, being required by law or by virtue of his employment to do any act
with respect to the receipt, despatch, or delivery, of any postal matter or telegram‐
[L.N. 112 of 1964.]
(a) neglects or refuses to do such act; or
(b) wilfully detains or delays, or permits the detention or delay of any such thing; or
(c) opens, or procures or suffers to be opened, any postal matter,
is guilty of a misdemeanour and is liable to a fine of two hundred naira or to
imprisonment for one year:
Provided always that nothing herein contained shall extend to the opening or detaining
of any postal matter or telegram returned by reason that the person to whom the
same shall be directed is dead, or cannot be found, or shall have refused the same, or
shall have refused or neglected to pay the postage thereof or any charges payable in
respect thereof, nor to the opening or detaining or delaying of any postal matter or
telegram under the authority of any Act or in obedience to an express warrant in
writing under the hand of the Minister charged with responsibility for postal matter.