Lagos Assembly passes bill barring police from parading suspects
- Members of the Lagos state House of Assembly have passed a bill which prevents police from parading suspects
- The resolution was made on Monday, July 5, after deliberations by lawmakers led by the deputy speaker, Wasiu Eshilokun-Sanni
- The bill states that suspect should be accorded humane treatment with the right to dignity of person and should not be subjected to any form of torture
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Alausa, Lagos - The Lagos House of Assembly on Monday, July 5, passed an amended version of the criminal justice law of the state barring the police from henceforth parading suspects before the media.
This was contained in statement made available to Legit.ng by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa's chief press secretary, Eromosele Ebhomele.
The bill was passed at a sitting presided over by the deputy speaker, Wasiu Eshilokun-Sanni, on behalf of the speaker.
Section 9(A) of the newly passed bill states that as from the commencement of the law, the police shall refrain from parading any suspect before the media.
No suspected should be treated unfairly
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.
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 before being brought before the court as prescribed by the 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 the governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for assent.
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Lagos Assembly plans laws to establish two universities
Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that two bills seeking the establishment of two tertiary institutions, a University of Education and a University of Science and Technology, in Lagos were deliberated upon at the state House of Assembly on Thursday, July 1.
It was reported that the speaker said the bills, having scaled its second reading on the floor of the House, were committed to the committee on Education (tertiary) for submission of the report in two weeks.
One of the lawmakers, Bisi Yusuff (Alimosho 1) argued that the bill for a law to provide for the establishment of the university of Education, Lagos (UNEDLAG) was important as he suggested that it should also have provision for pre-degree programmes.
Source: Legit.ng