The Federal government through the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has directed the Nigeria Police Force to cease the public parading of criminal suspects.
A parade is a public display of individuals suspected of committing crimes, often conducted by law enforcement agencies.
Senior police officers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Lagos State confirmed the development, stating that they had received official directives to comply.
One senior officer told Punch, “The AGF issued the directive earlier this month, and we have been informed accordingly. You may have already noticed some level of compliance.”
Another high-ranking officer in Abuja added, “Yes, we have been asked to stop parading suspects.”
When contacted, the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, stated that an official statement on the matter would be released in due time.
“The police will react officially when appropriate. We will issue a statement soon,” he said.
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), welcomed the decision, noting that suspect parades violate fundamental human rights.
His words, “Parading suspects is illegal as it contravenes the presumption of innocence guaranteed by Section 36 of the Nigerian Constitution and Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”
Falana also pointed out the discriminatory nature of the practice, stating that while low-income individuals accused of minor theft are paraded, high-profile suspects involved in massive corruption scandals are never subjected to such treatment.
“There are at least five court rulings, including from the ECOWAS Court and Federal High Courts, declaring the parade of suspects illegal,” he added.
Senior lawyer Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) also condemned the practice, highlighting the lasting damage done to individuals who may later be found innocent.
“The reputational harm from these parades is irreversible. Many suspects are later acquitted, but the public never forgets the initial humiliation,” he said.
Ozekhome called on the Inspector General of Police to ensure nationwide compliance with the directive.
“The police should build solid cases and take suspects to court rather than subjecting them to media trials,” he added.
