Falana laments police bail conditions

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has condemned the bail conditions being demanded by police before releasing suspected criminals.

“Onerous bail conditions are being imposed on suspects who have applied for bail. Reliable sureties are also being rejected on frivolous grounds,” the Lagos based lawyer said.

Mr. Falana made the statement while commending the acting Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar for directing police formations in the country to stop detaining criminal suspects beyond 24hours.

Mr. Falana stated that the directive will “go a long way to stop the incessant detention of suspects without trial and other  innocent people for the sole purpose of extorting  from them.” 

He advised the police boss to liaise with the Ministry of Justice, National Human Rights Commission, the Nigerian Bar Association, and other human rights associations to ensure that suspects are tried promptly.

The former President of the West African Bar Association also advised the police chief to put a stop to the parading of suspects, an act which has been held to be illegal by Nigerian courts. 

Mr. Falana, who commended Mr. Abubakar’s directive on dismantling of police checkpoint, issued a note of warning on the directive.

“The roads should be regularly patrolled and monitored by  anti-robbery teams so as to guarantee the safety of motorists and the security of their goods.” Otherwise, Mr. Falana said “members of the public may be compelled to demand for the return of checkpoints if the roads are taken over, once again by armed robbers.”