The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has ordered the Nigeria Police Force to stop the public parade of crime suspects.
According to The PUNCH, the senior police officers in the Federal Capital Territory and Lagos confirmed that the directive had been issued and circulated within the force.
One of the officers, speaking anonymously, said, “Yes, I am aware of the directive. I believe it was given by the AGF earlier this month, and we have been asked to comply. You might have noticed a reduction in suspect parades recently.”
Another top-ranking officer in the FCT added, “We have received clear instructions to stop parading suspects.”
When contacted for an official statement, Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said the police would respond at the appropriate time. “The police will react officially on the matter when it is time. We will make an official statement soon,” he stated.
Efforts to reach the Special Assistant on Communication and Publicity to the Minister, Kamorudeen Ogundele, were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
Legal practitioners and human rights activists have welcomed the ban, emphasizing that public parades violate fundamental human rights.
Renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), described the practice as unconstitutional. “Parading suspects is a gross violation of their right to the presumption of innocence, as guaranteed by Section 36 of the Constitution and Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights,” he stated.
He further argued that the practice disproportionately affects the less privileged. “While the police frequently parade individuals accused of petty crimes, such as stealing a mobile phone or food items, high-profile individuals accused of embezzling billions are never subjected to such treatment,” he said.
Falana also pointed out that multiple court rulings have declared the practice illegal. “There are at least five judgments from the ECOWAS Court and the Federal High Court affirming that suspect parades are unlawful,” he noted.
Similarly, constitutional lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), criticized the practice, stressing its long-term consequences. “Even if a suspect is later found innocent, the reputational damage remains permanent. Unfortunately, while the public remembers the parade, they rarely pay attention when the courts eventually acquit the accused,” he said.
Ozekhome called on the Inspector General of Police to enforce the directive nationwide. “The IG should issue a clear directive to all police commands to stop parading suspects. If the police have a solid case, they should take the suspect to court instead of engaging in public shaming,” he stated.
He clarified that media coverage of accused persons leaving the courtroom is different from a police-led parade. “Once a case is in court, it is sub judice, and media coverage follows due process. But presenting a suspect as a criminal before trial is unjust and should end immediately,” he added.
