Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday passed an amended version of the state’s Criminal Justice Law which notably bars the police from parading suspects before the news media.
Deputy Speaker Wasiu Eshilokun-Sanni, on behalf of Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, presided over the sitting where the bill was passed.
Many had raised concerns over the way suspects are paraded before the news media before trial.
The amended Section 9(A) of the bill states that “as from the commencement of this law, the police shall refrain from parading any suspect before the media.”
The bill also stipulates that a person must be reasonably suspected to unlawfully be in possession of firearms or other such dangerous instruments before a police officer can arrest such person without warrant.
A subsection of the bill also barred the police or any other agency from arresting a person “in lieu of any other person in a criminal matter”.
The bill also makes room for arrested persons to be given access to legal representation.
