A Senior Advocate of Nigeria,SAN, Femi Falana has asked the new Chief Judge of Lagos State to ensure that Magistrates are designated inspect Police detention centres in accordance with the existing law.
Falana made this call in a letter to the new CJ titled:”Request for monthly inspection of all police stations and detention centres in Lagos State”
In it, the legal luminary said “I wish to congratulate your Ladyship on recent appointment and inauguration as the Chief Judge of Lagos State and pray for almighty guidance in the discharge of your Constitutional duties.
“Pursuant to section 34 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act Act, 2015 we hereby request Your Ladyship to designate Chief Magistrates to conduct monthly inspection of all police stations and other detention centres in Lagos State in order to prevent the illegal detention of Nigerian citizens and foreigners living in Lagos State.
“ ‘34. (1) The Chief Magistrate, or where there is no Chief Magistrate within the police division, any Magistrate designated by the Chief Judge for that purpose, shall at least every month, conduct an inspection of police stations or other places of detention within his territorial jurisdiction other than the prison. (2) During a visit, the Magistrate may: (a) call for, and inspect, the record of arrests; (b) direct the arraignment of a suspect; (c) where bail has been refused, grant bail to any suspect where appropriate if the offence for which the suspect is held is within the jurisdiction of the Magistrate”.
He noted further that “During the said monthly inspection, the said designated Chief Magistrates are required to call for and inspect the records of all arrests made by the Police, direct the arraignment of criminal suspects and grant bail to detained persons in deserving cases.
“It is hoped that Your Ladyship will not hesitate to grant our humble request in view of the urgent need to compel the Nigeria Police Force and other law enforcement agencies to respect the fundamental rights of every person to liberty and dignity guaranteed by sections 34 and 35 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended,” Falana said.
