Falana Commends Lagos Assembly for Outlawing Media Parade of Suspects

In Abuja

Human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has commended the Lagos State House of Assembly for unanimously passing an amended version of the Criminal Justice Law of the state barring the police from henceforth parading suspects before the media.

He also urged the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to speedily assent to the bill.

In a signed statement issued yesterday, the senior lawyer particularly singled out Section 9(A) of the newly passed bill which states that: “As from the commencement of this law, the police shall refrain from parading any suspect before the media,” for commendation.

According to him, the bill has adopted the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 on the humane treatment of criminal suspects, and has also outlawed the discriminatory and illegal parade of criminal suspects by law enforcement officers in the State.

Falana said the practice of parading suspects was illegal, as it constitutes a gross violation of the fundamental rights of criminal

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has charged President Muhammadu Buhari to summon security chiefs in the country to explain why criminals are operating with ease in Nigeria without being brought to justice.

In a statement issued yesterday by CAN President, Rev. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, the Christian body said Nigeria is no longer a safe haven for anyone.

He said the country is gradually becoming a den of kidnappers and other criminals who are operating almost unhindered.

Against the background of the kidnap of the 180 pupils of Bethel Baptist College in Kaduna by the Boko Haram terrorists or bandits last Monday, the CAN president said: “President Buhari should summon all the security chiefs in the country and cause them to explain why the criminals are operating with ease in Nigeria without being brought to book.”

With regards to the recent kidnap of some students, Ayokunle expressed CAN condemnation of the abduction of the school children and other kidnappings in the country. suspects to presumption of innocence guaranteed by Section 36 of the Constitution and Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (Cap A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

He also noted that the act of parading suspects was equally discriminatory as only lowly placed criminal suspects are exposed to media parades by the police and other law enforcement agencies.

CAN Demands Probe of Security Lapses in Kaduna Students’ Abduction

Onyebuchi Ezigbo