Mr. Femi Falana, a human rights attorney, has urged the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to put a halt to the country’s ongoing arrests and detentions of suspects and other citizens.
Additionally, Falana asked the NBA to invite the presidential candidates of the recognised political parties to the 2022 annual conference and press them to make a commitment to put an end to citizen imprisonment and unauthorised arrest.
Falana encouraged the NBA to direct members of the Human Rights Committee in its branches to accompany Chief Magistrates during the monthly visits to all police stations in the nation in a statement made, on Monday, August 22, during the ongoing NBA Conference taking place in Lagos.
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He stated that in order to stop the torture of suspects and other persons in Nigeria, Nigerian attorneys should implement the Anti-Torture Act 2017’s requirements.
Falana also claimed that the police and other law enforcement personnel should be made aware that torturing suspects carry a 25-year prison sentence and that those who torture suspects to death may be charged with murder.
What He Said
The statement read;
While welcoming Nigerian lawyers to Lagos for the 2022 Annual Conference of the NBA, we are compelled to advise them to adopt urgent measures to end illegal arrest and detention of innocent citizens by the police and other law enforcement agencies.
In particular, we urge the 125 branches of the NBA to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act which has abolished arrest and detention of citizens for civil wrong and breach of contract.
The law has also made provision for legal representation of suspects in police stations, bail for suspects and humane treatment of detained suspects.
The NBA should direct members of the Human Rights Committee at its branches to accompany Chief Magistrates during the monthly visits to all police stations in the country.
Such visits will end the incessant arrest and detention of suspects and other people as the Magistrates are empowered to grant bail to suspects, order their release or direct that they be arraigned in appropriate courts.
Falana further urged the leadership of the NBA to exert pressure on the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to appoint judges to make monthly visits to the detention facilities of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the ICPC, the NDLEA, Customs, the armed forces, and the State Security Service in accordance with the provisions of sections 34 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and section 70 of the Police Establishment Act.
