The Lagos House of Assembly on Monday passed an amended version of the Criminal Justice Law of the state, to bar the police from parading suspects before the media, henceforth.
Section 9(a) of the new bill, passed at a sitting presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Wasiu Eshilokun-Sanni states that:
“As from the commencement of this law, the police shall refrain from parading any suspect before the media.”
According to the bill, before a Policeman arrests without warrant, the” person must be reasonably suspected to unlawfully be in possession of firearms or other such dangerous instruments.”
Furthermore, the bill barred the police or any other agency from arresting a person “in lieu of any other person in a criminal matter.”
It adds that a person who is 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 right to dignity of person; not 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.”
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 assent.
