The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday, July 5, passed an amended version of the Criminal Justice Law of the state proscribed the police from parading suspects before the media.
The bill was passed through voice votes conducted by the Deputy Speaker, Wasiu Eshilokun-Sanni, who presided over the plenary session.
Eshilokun-Sanni said Section 9(A) of the newly passed bill states that “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 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 that a person who is arrested shall be given reasonable facilities for obtaining legal advice; bail or making arrangements for defence or release,” he said.
The deputy speaker of the Lagos Assembly noted that the bill stipulated that a suspect should be “accorded humane treatment; with the right to dignity of person.”
He said that no suspect should be 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 Lagos Assembly, Mr Olalekan Onafeko, to transmit the bill to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for his assent.
