LAGOS ASSEMBLY PASSES BILL TO PROHIBIT POLICE FROM PARADING SUSPECTS BEFORE MEDIA.

Cov/ BH

The Lagos State Assembly has passed an amendment to the Criminal Justice Law of the state prohibiting the police from parading suspects before the media.

The bill was passed at a plenary presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Wasiu Eshilokun-Sanni.

The bill which was read for the third time was passed after a voice vote.

The bill further stipulates conditions under which a policeman can arrest without warrant one of which is that a person must be reasonably suspected to unlawfully be in possession of firearms or other such dangerous instruments.

A subsection of the bill also barred the police or any other agency from arresting a person in lieu of any other person in a criminal matter.

After a voice vote, the Deputy Speaker directed the acting Clerk of the House, Mr. Olalekan Onafeko, to transmit the bill to the governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for his assent.

At the close of the sitting, the Majority Leader of the House, Mr. Sanai Agunbiade said the amendment would aid administration of criminal justice and decongest the court and correctional facilities.