Gavel Sensitized Oyo and Environs on Human Rights Protection

Peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of justice. Every society must face consequences of their actions. As a development organization aimed at a peaceful coexistence of all people in the society, the Justice, Development and Peace Movement (JDPM) Oyo of the Catholic Diocese of Oyo collaborated with the Citizens Gavel, a civic tech non-profit Organization to sensitized the people of Oyo and environs on the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) and the Luanda Guidelines on the 3rd of October, 2019 at the JDPM Office Oyo town.

The town hall meeting which began with a road walks a day prior the programme sees the staff of Politics and Human Rights Department, Justice, Development and Peace Movement (JDPM) Oyo, Citizens Gavel, Ibadan and West Africa Partners Nigeria (PWAN) Abuja took to the streets of Oyo town to create awareness about human rights protection and the town hall meeting. The programme had in attendance, members of Civil Coalition for Good Governance (CCGG), artisans, Road Transport Workers, Okada riders, fashion designers, market women, religious leaders among others.

Welcoming the participants to the Town Hall meeting, the team lead, Citizen Gavel, Barrister Nelson Olanipekun said, and ACJL stipulates the pros and cons of arrest, detention and prosecution of any suspected person; he added that the law was enacted to address frequent cases of human rights abuse by the Nigerian police.

“Majority of Nigerians do not believe they have fundamental human rights not to talk of how they can protect it from abuse even though it has been adopted by the Oyo State government since 2016.”

In the word of Barrister Femi Ajibade, another member of Gavel team, the ACJL specifically addressed all issues that affect citizens.” No police officer has the right to neither invade your residence without a search warrant obtainable from a Magistrate nor reserve the exclusive right to detain you beyond twenty four (24) without giving you an access to your lawyer”

Under the arrest protocols, Bar Femi Ajibade noted that the police have no rights to arrest anyone in the place of missing suspect. “The police would show respect to arrested persons and not engage in torture or abuse of any kind that reduce the esteem of anyone. In fact, the police, Judge and Magistrate have the power to arrest a suspect caught damaging or stealing someone else’s property”.

Responding to the discussion, Barrister Asmau Mohammed from the Partners West Africa Nigeria said , every Nigerians have some fundamental human rights which be respected. She maintained that as the ACJL protected the rights of every Nigerian citizen against harassment by the police, they must also respect the authority by being law abiding.

 “If you are properly arrested by the police, you have the right to your lawyer and must watch your utterances because the police in charge must let you know your right to; Not speak until your Lawyer is present; Speak with your Lawyer before you write a statement or sign anything; Have a Lawyer free of charge from the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria if you can’t afford one”

She further that if anyone is arrested for an offence, She/he remains a suspect until such fellow is tried and found guilty by the court, adding that the court would order the police to bring such fellow to court which could lead into bail or remanded in prison custody.

Barrister Nelson Olanipekun submitted that during a search, the law allows man to search man while a woman is to search a fellow woman which is contrary to what we are experiencing in recent time. He noted that it is unlawful to grant any suspect a bail with a certain amount of money if the offence is inconsequential.

“If you are arrested for an offence punishable under the law, if it is not a serious offence, the police will investigate and set you free after twenty four (24) hours. But if otherwise, you could be charge to court as soon as possible. Although, you will need a surety in person or sum to be granted a bail”

During the question time, representatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Abuja explained various proactive measures put in place by the police Headquarter to fight against all forms of abuses and obnoxious activities of its officers and the citizens.

Superintendent Albert said, through the Police Complaint Bureau Unit established by the Nigeria Police Force Headquarter, Abuja in 2016, the unit have produced quarterly reports of cases which are readily available on their website and social media platforms; Facebook and Twitter. “Complaints can be made through SMS, Social media platforms, WhatsApp, email and direct call where at least four major Nigerian languages are used to communicate with about three (3) Call Centre lines”

In his response, Superintendent Umar stated that between 2015-2018, the Unit have recorded success in the area of rapid response to complaints and increase revenue base to the Nigeria Police Force Headquarter with an estimate of about 6 million naira from bail applications and other sources, dismissed four erring police officers for extortions and fraud while those whose offences are pardonable were sanctioned.

He added that as at the first and second quarter of 2018, the Unit received about 1,134 complaints and nine hundred and twenty (920) cases was resolved while forty seven (47) cases was dismissed for lack of evidence and false claims with about one hundred and sixty seven cases still pending.

“This unit received complaints within and outside Nigeria with the drivers-police check point’s coming top including cyber crime by internet fraudsters’ syndicates popularly known as “yahoo+ guys” who have lured many victims through social media romance scams.

Our team of professionals is always ready and fit to the task. As citizens, you need to trust us more beyond ethnic or religion bigotry. We need your cooperation to do our job and that is why citizen journalism is assisting us in recent time. So, if you see something that could cause havoc, please speak up!”

He appealed to participants to be law abiding, compassionate and always be brother’s keeper all the time, adding that people should learn to send responsible people to the police academy instead of seeing it as an alternative to evacuate the bad eggs from families. He, however, assured the people to who wishes to attest as a witness to any accused/suspects offence of security of lives and identity.

The highpoint of the town hall meeting was nomination of people comprising three males and three females as committee who will represent the interest of the people to write a communiqué at the end of the programme.