On Monday, the Lagos House of Assembly passed an amended version of the state’s Criminal Justice Law barring the police from henceforth parading suspects before the media.
The House passed the bill at a sitting presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Wasiu Eshilokun-Sanni, on behalf of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Dr 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 further stipulates conditions under which a police officer can arrest without a warrant. A person must be reasonably suspected to own firearms or other such dangerous instruments unlawfully.
A subsection of the bill also barred the police or any other agency from arresting a person “in place of any other person in a criminal matter.”
Lagos Assembly Adjusts Criminal Justice Law
Also, the adjusted part of the criminal justice law adds that a person arrested shall be given reasonable facilities for obtaining legal advice, bail or making arrangements for defence or release.
The bill stipulates that a suspect should be accorded humane treatment, with the person’s right to dignity, not be subjected to any form of torture, cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment.
The suspect is brought before the court as prescribed by this law or any other written law or released conditionally or unconditionally.
After a voice vote, the Deputy Speaker directed the acting Clerk of the House, Mr Olalekan Onafeko, to transmit the bill to the governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for approval.
