Lagos Assembly Passes Bill Barring Police From Parading Suspects

Lagos Assembly has passed an amended version of the Criminal
Justice Law of the State barring the police from parading suspects
before the media henceforth.

The bill was passed at a sitting presided over by Deputy
Speaker, Wasiu Eshilokun-Sanni, on behalf of Speaker Mudashiru
Obasa.

Section 9(A) of the newly passed bill states: “As from the
commencement of this law, the police shall refrain from parading
any suspect before the media.”

The bill also stipulates conditions under which a policeman can
arrest without warrant, one of which is that a person must be
reasonably suspected to unlawfully be in possession of firearms or
other such dangerous instruments.

A subsection of the bill also barred the police or any other
agency from arresting a person “in lieu of any other person in a
criminal matter”.

The bill adds a person who is arrested “shall be given
reasonable facilities for obtaining legal advice, bail or making
arrangements for defence or release.

“A suspect should also be ‘accorded humane treatment, with the
right to dignity of person; not subjected to any form of torture,
cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment; be brought before the court
as prescribed by this law or any other written law; or be released
conditionally or unconditionally.”

After a voice vote, the Deputy Speaker directed the acting Clerk
of the House, Olalekan Onafeko, to transmit the bill to Governor
Babajide Sanwo-Olu for assent.

Lagos Assembly has passed an amended version of the Criminal
Justice Law of the State barring the police from parading suspects
before the media henceforth.

The bill was passed at a sitting presided over by Deputy
Speaker, Wasiu Eshilokun-Sanni, on behalf of Speaker Mudashiru
Obasa.

Section 9(A) of the newly passed bill states: “As from the
commencement of this law, the police shall refrain from parading
any suspect before the media.”

The bill also stipulates conditions under which a policeman can
arrest without warrant, one of which is that a person must be
reasonably suspected to unlawfully be in possession of firearms or
other such dangerous instruments.

A subsection of the bill also barred the police or any other
agency from arresting a person “in lieu of any other person in a
criminal matter”.

The bill adds a person who is arrested “shall be given
reasonable facilities for obtaining legal advice, bail or making
arrangements for defence or release.

“A suspect should also be ‘accorded humane treatment, with the
right to dignity of person; not subjected to any form of torture,
cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment; be brought before the court
as prescribed by this law or any other written law; or be released
conditionally or unconditionally.”

After a voice vote, the Deputy Speaker directed the acting Clerk
of the House, Olalekan Onafeko, to transmit the bill to Governor
Babajide Sanwo-Olu for assent.