NBA AGC 2024: Falana Urges NBA To Combat Rights Violations In Police Stations
At the 2024 Annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) held on Sunday, Femi Falana (SAN), Chair of the Alliance on Surviving Covid-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), called for urgent action to prevent human rights violations in Nigeria’s police stations. In his message, titled “Appeal To Nigerian Lawyers To End Illegal Arrest And Detention Of Citizens,” Falana emphasized the need for the NBA to protect the right to protest and address the ongoing abuse of detainees.
Falana’s appeal comes in response to recent concerns about the prolonged detention of protesters under remand orders issued by judges and magistrates. He urged the NBA to implement strict measures to combat illegal arrests and detentions carried out by police and other law enforcement agencies.
Acknowledging the NBA’s recent resolution to support over 2,000 detained #EndBadGovernance protesters, Falana called on the association to leverage the conference to establish a comprehensive mechanism for enforcing the Administration of Police Establishment Act and the Criminal Justice Act, which are recognized in all 36 states of Nigeria.
Despite these laws providing safeguards against arbitrary detention, including provisions for legal representation and humane treatment, Falana lamented that violations of fundamental rights continue unabated. He recommended that the NBA’s Human Rights Committee members accompany Chief Magistrates on their monthly visits to police stations, arguing that such oversight could prevent frequent arrests and unlawful detentions.
Additionally, Falana proposed that the NBA leadership pressure the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to appoint judges for regular inspections of detention facilities managed by various federal agencies, including the Armed Forces and EFCC. He also suggested that NBA officials visit correctional centres regularly to ensure compliance with the Nigerian Correctional Service Act and uphold the rights of inmates.
The human rights lawyer further advocated for the application of the Anti-Torture Act, 2017, to address the issue of torture and ensure that perpetrators face severe penalties. He also recommended that state attorneys-general ensure that criminal prosecutions are conducted by qualified legal practitioners, in line with Section 106 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
In his concluding remarks, Falana praised the NBA for its resolution to defend the #EndBadGovernance protesters but stressed the importance of preventing the criminalization of peaceful protests by judicial authorities.
