The Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday passed a Bill to henceforth stop the media parade of suspects by the Police.
The Bill, which was passed under the leadership of the House Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa (representing Agege-1), is an amendment of the Lagos State Criminal Justice Law.
According to section 9(a) of the newly passed Bill, “as from the commencement of this law, the Police shall refrain from parading any suspect before the media”.
The Deputy Speaker of the House, Wasiu Eshilokun-Sanni (Lagos Island-1), presided over yesterday’s sitting that saw to the passage of the Bill. If assented by the State governor, the Bill will stop the Police from parading suspects before the media.
According to section 9(a) of the newly passed Bill, “as from the commencement of this law, the Police shall refrain from parading any suspect before the media”.
The parade of suspects before the media in Nigeria has always been a point of debate. Several lawyers, human rights activists and civil society organisations have called for its end saying it does not protect the human rights of suspects.
Recall that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and a human rights activist, Femi Falana, sued the Police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Attorney-General of Federation over media parade of suspects.
