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Conduct inspection of detention centres, Falana appeal to judges

Human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), has reiterated his appeal to judges and chief magistrates across the country to conduct monthly inspection of police stations and other detention facilities in the country.

He said in a statement that failure of judges and chief magistrates to carry out the routine inspection as stipulated by the relevant laws had resulted in the incessant arrest, detention and torture of poor citizens by the police and other security agencies.

In the statement which he issued as the Interim Chairman of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond, Falana said section 34 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 imposed the duty on the Chief Judges of the Federal High Court, the Federal Capital Territory High Court and State High Courts to designate judges and chief magistrates to conduct the monthly inspection.

The senior lawyer who signed the statement said the provision of the law was not complied with in disobedience of the directive of the National Judicial Council.

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The statement is titled, ‘Special appeal to judges and chief magistrates to conduct monthly inspection of all police stations and other detention facilities in Nigeria’.

It read in part, “In spite of the directive of the National Judicial Council the provision of the law was not complied with by many judicial authorities.

“Hence, the incessant arrest, detention and torture of poor citizens by the police and other security agencies have since become the order of the day.

“However, the newly enacted Nigeria Police Act, 2020 has imposed a duty on all Chief Magistrates and Judges to conduct monthly visitation and inspection of all police stations and other detention facilities within their territorial jurisdiction other than Correctional Centres.”

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