The Lagos State Police Command Commissioner, Olohundare Jimoh, has emphasized need to parade suspects, arguing that that the restriction to parade the suspects by the court hampered effective prosecution and the delivery of justice
Penpushing reports that Jimoh explained that there is need for a shift in the directive, pointing out that although the command’s crime-fighting strategies had led to the arrest of numerous suspects and the recovery of locally made firearms, legal limitations prevented the public parade of those apprehended.
“We have brought in several suspects, but we cannot parade them because of the perceived public trial. This slows down their prosecution and delays justice for the victims. When we parade suspects, victims of the crimes, people they have injured or hurt, can identify them. It often encourages them to come forward and pursue justice in court’, he emphasised
Penpushing further reports that Jimoh was of the views that public identification of suspects can bolster victims’ confidence to testify in court and provide additional investigative leads, adding that public awareness of the consequences of criminal behaviour could serve as a deterrent.
“When the public sees the faces behind these crimes, it can reduce the rate of such offences. We must balance human rights with the need for justice. Human rights exist for everyone, but those rights end where another person’s rights are violated,” he said.
Penpushing also reports that Jimoh pointed out that while respect for human dignity is paramount, individuals who violate the rights of others must be held accountable, and citing a real-life example he recalled a case in which a child identified a suspect on television after a crime scene was broadcast.
“The identification provided critical evidence that helped secure the suspect’s conviction. That singular act gave the police more clues and strengthened the case in court’, he stated.
The Commissioner of Police therefore urged the relevant authorities to revisit and reconsider the current ban on parading suspects.
Penpushing reports that as at now, there is no specific law in Nigeria that explicitly forbids the parade of suspects, but the practice has been widely criticised and considered a violation of fundamental human rights, particularly the presumption of innocence guaranteed under the law.
The Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 does not provide for the parading of suspects, and legal experts argue that the practice is inconsistent with its provisions on fair trial and due process.
Penpushing further reports that it is recalled that just recently courts in Nigeria have ruled against the parade of suspects in several cases, describing it as unconstitutional and a form of media trial.
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