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The Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) has charged attorney generals and commissioners of justice to end indiscriminate arrests and detention of citizens, as a measure to curb the spread of coronavirus.
In a statement issued by its National Coordinator, Chino Obiagwu and Programmes Director, Pamela Okoroigwe, it drew their attention to the vulnerable situation of detention centres.
It cited such centres as correctional services centres, police stations and detention facilities of environment sanitation agencies, COVID-19 Task Force, Nigeria Safety and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and vigilante groups, among others, stressing that they were reportedly filled with criminal suspects and usually over-congested.
Obiagwu stressed that law enforcement officials have relied on the COVID-19 lockdown to harass citizens, extort money from them, indiscriminately arrest and detain suspects and charge money for bail.
“It is commonplace that securing bail in police and other agencies cost between N10, 000 and N50, 000 for simple offences and much more for felonies, yet the police authorities continue to tell Nigerians that bail is free,” Obiagwu said.
The group called on attorney-generals to issue further directives on managing and handling criminal matters during COVID-19 lockdown to ensure that no arrested person was unduly detained and where such detention occurs, that bail was granted free of charge as soon as surety was presented.
Obiagwu also appealed that a Judge should be designated in each division and one Magistrate in each magisterial district, to handle all urgent criminal matters during the Covid-19 lockdown
He further added that all arrested persons should be immediately arraigned in the courts, and the courts should refrain from imposing custodial sentences for non-felony offences, and should rather order for non-custodial sanction as provided in section 453–468 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 or the equivalent provision in the ACJ Laws of each state.
