Beyond The Ban On Suspects’ Parade

For too lengthy, Nigerians have identified the shortcomings related to the Nigeria Police Pressure (NPF) and its sister companies’ dealing with of suspected criminals.

One of many practices that has attracted wider condemnation is the parade of suspects earlier than the general public with all attainable media instruments deployed in a really dehumanising and disgusting method.

In most of such parades additionally known as “media trial”, the suspects, who’re normally the poor that would not oil the palms of investigating officers, are introduced earlier than the media in chains and handcuffs.

Typically, they’re chained collectively on their legs, half-naked, trying feeble and unkept as a result of they’ve been subjected to very harrowing remedy simply to extract “helpful” data.

The worst culprits of this debasing and degrading follow are the police and the Nigeria Safety and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

These maltreatment by safety companies throughout investigation to extract statements from suspects have been challenged in courts and beneficial judgements delivered, however the police by no means deemed it match to obey the verdicts.

It’s on report that involved Nigerians, who challenged the follow earlier than the Federal Excessive Court docket and ECOWAS Court docket gained their circumstances 5 occasions, however the police had been defiant.

It’s in opposition to this backdrop that we as a newspaper applauds the Lawyer-Common of the Federation (AGF’s) latest ban on the police and different safety companies from parading suspects earlier than their trial.

It’s a daring step in direction of recognising the human rights and dignity of suspects.

It is usually heartwarming that in contrast to the previous, the police authorities, particularly,  are complying with the AGF”s order.

Critics of the parade of suspects by the police particularly, earlier than the general public previous to being arraigned have described it as an aberration and unconstitutional. They argued that it was a complete violation of the doctrine of presumption of innocence till discovered responsible as contained within the Nigerian structure.

Part 36(5) and (6) of the 1999 Structure (as amended) states that an accused individual shall be presumed harmless till the opposite is proved.

There isn’t any the place the structure empowers the police or every other regulation enforcement company to debase and humiliate suspects publicly earlier than being prosecuted.

The one event allowed by regulation for the safety companies to parade a suspect is for the identification of the suspect by a witness who could declare seeing the suspect committing the crime in query.

Underneath such circumstances often known as identification parade, the suspect is introduced amongst different individuals who could not essentially be criminals or linked to the crime for the witness to level him out from the gang.

Even at that, the parade just isn’t carried out earlier than the press. The Police resort to this strategy is to show to Nigerians and those that foot their payments that they’re profitable the battle in opposition to crime.

It’s equally a publicity blitz and picture laundering present with out contemplating the injury it causes the victims. Although the motion of the AGF could also be thought of belated, it’s a good begin.

With the ban on suspects’ parade, the hurt the safety companies have carried out to 1000’s of suspects who could later be discovered to be harmless and others who had languished and are nonetheless languishing in prisons for offences they by no means dedicated, will likely be contained.

Some paraded suspects, who later regained freedom and got clear invoice, have suffered rejection by households, mates and associates. Some haven’t been reintegrated into the society and proceed to endure stigmatization. Others have misplaced their jobs and companies as their employers and enterprise companions by no means trusted them once more.

Households have been damaged with the kids of such suspects branded siblings of criminals. In colleges, they’re ostracised. The losses and injury suffered by the suspects are incalculable.

These are among the evils this authorities laudable motion will handle with correct and efficient enforcement.

Due to this fact, the federal authorities ought to transcend mere pronouncement by organising a equipment to watch compliance by the affected companies and the place there are breaches, applicable sanctions  utilized promptly.

This can shield the rights and dignity of people linked with crime till they’re convicted.

The federal government’s motion will even handle damaging penalties resembling prejudice, public ridicule, and emotional trauma suffered by the suspects and their members of the family.

It would additionally take away the doubts on the integrity of the safety companies’ investigation and the equity of the trial course of.

Moreover, to make the ban simpler, we advise the federal government to make sure that all the safety companies are conscious of and adjust to the AGF ‘s directive.

And when there may be any want for suspects to be paraded, the federal government ought to give you clear tips and protocols that respect their basic human rights.

The Police Excessive Command and the authorities of associated companies ought to proceed with dispatch to coach and educate their personnel on the significance of upholding the rights and dignity of suspects.

We argue that this follow of parading suspects just isn’t solely morally reprehensible but additionally ineffective in securing dependable data. It will possibly result in false confession, miscarriage of justice, and long-term bodily and psychological hurt to the victims.