Lawyers and Other Volunteers Inspect Detention Facility at SARS Headquarters Ikeja
Kayode Enitan SAN, Mrs. Tola Ayanru, Esq [Associate at SPA Ajibade & Co], Counsels from OPD and other Volunteers visit SARs Headquarters in Ikeja to inspect its detention facility
Sections 33 and 34 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 provides that a chief magistrate shall visit police detention centers to ensure that the rights of citizens are not violated.
In early 2018, the then Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon. Justice Opeyemi Oke designated some magistrates in Lagos to undertake these visits. It was at the same time that Bayo Akinlade Esq, convener of Fight Corruption in the Judiciary [FIACIJ] Founded a volunteer group now called DUTY SOLICITORS NETWORK [DSN] to accompany the Magistrates in their visits. Members of DSN include representatives of Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, Office of the Public Defender, CMC, NBA, FIDA and other NGOs.
Since 2018 DSN has provided support for the magistrates.
Today, Lawyers in NBA are now organised to take the initiative further.
NBA Ikeja Branch has also joined other NBA Branches in Lagos to provide volunteer support for Magistrates who visit detention centers within Ikeja division.
The importance of these visitations cannot be overemphasized as the magistrates ensure that the police do not indiscriminately arrest citizens and detain them without due process.
The chief magistrate 1 of ogba magistrate court today ordered the immediate arraignment of more than 15 suspects found in the SARS detention facility or in the alternative they are to be granted bail.
There were a total of 25 suspects detained by SARs as they claimed that most of them were only brought in over the weekend.
These visits are complimented by the Police Duty Solicitors Scheme [PDSS] which many NBA Branches and even the ministry of justice in some states are adopting as an initiative to combat the the abuse of police powers and indiscriminate arrests.
To learn more about these initiatives please contact your nearest NBA Branch or call Bayo Akinlade Esq on WhatsApp 0806517866
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