Lawmakers seek to ban police parade of suspects
The House of Representatives is considering a bill to prohibit the public parade of suspects by police and law enforcement agencies. The move comes after years of criticism from human rights groups, the judiciary, and civil society organisations. The proposed amendment aims to clarify and expand constitutional protections against inhuman or degrading treatment. Benjamin Kalu and rights advocate Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin are among those supporting the changes.
What we know
- The House Committee on Constitution Review, chaired by Benjamin Kalu, adopted recommendations to outlaw the public parade of arrested persons.
- The bill proposes an explicit ban on parading suspects, expanding Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution.
- Rights advocates argue that public parades violate the presumption of innocence and cause humiliation and trauma.
- Several court rulings have condemned the practice, but it remains common in police operations.
- Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin praised the move, citing alignment with international human rights standards.
