CP, women lawyers counsel against jungle justice

As part of efforts to promote the administration of criminal justice in the country, Ekiti state Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abdullahi Chafe and International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) have counseled against jungle justice on suspects of crime.
The police boss and FIDA’s chairperson in Ekiti, Mrs Adefunke Anoma, lamented the increasing wave of jungle justice in Nigeria, describing the conduct as barbaric and unconstitutional.
According to them, a suspect is presumed innocent until proved otherwise by a competent court of law.
The duo spoke in Ado Ekiti at the weekend during a programme organised by FIDA on the administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.
The programme, which was facilitated by MacArthur Foundation, according toorganisers was meant to canvass for eff ective administration of criminal justice act in Ekiti state.
Chafe said the implementation required political will, saying a lot of impediments needed to be tackled to achieve this onerous task.
“Jungle justice is a gross human rights abuse.
To stop our men from engaging in such, the present Inspector General of Police, Mr.
Ibrahim Idris established Police Public Relations School where workshops on human rights protection are organised.
“We are ready to partner with judicial officers to stop the menace and ensure that no Nigerian is punished unduly.
“Today, we have made it a practice that no Nigerian should be detained beyond 48 hours before being taken to court, because it will infringe on its right.
” The FIDA’s boss said only a court has the capacity to prove the innocence and guilt of any suspect, not even the police.
“If someone commits any Offence, arrest him and charge him to court within 48 hours or discharge him.
Nobody has the capacity to pronounce judgement on anybody

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