AGF gives new order to Nigeria Police

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has directed the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to immediately halt the public parade of crime suspects.

Senior police officers in Abuja and Lagos have confirmed receiving the directive, signaling a shift in law enforcement practices. A top-ranking officer in Lagos stated, “I am aware of it. The directive was given earlier this month, and the information was passed down to us. You would have noticed some level of compliance.”

Similarly, an officer in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) confirmed the development, saying, “Yes, we have been asked to stop parading suspects.”

Awaiting Official Police Reaction

While the directive is already in effect, the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, stated that the police would issue an official statement in due course. “The police will react officially on the matter when it is time,” he said.

Legal Backing for the Ban

Renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has long described the practice of parading crime suspects as illegal. He argued that it violates the fundamental right to the presumption of innocence, as enshrined in Section 36 of the Nigerian Constitution and Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.

Falana further condemned the discriminatory nature of the practice, noting that only low-income suspects are typically subjected to media parades.

“While poor suspects are paraded for allegedly stealing tubers of yam or mobile phones worth ₦10,000 or less, politically exposed persons accused of looting ₦10 billion or more are never paraded before the media,” he said.

The senior lawyer also revealed that at least five court rulings from the ECOWAS Court and the Federal High Courts have declared the parade of suspects illegal.

Ozekhome Supports Ban, Calls for Full Implementation

Constitutional lawyer Mike Ozekhome (SAN) also welcomed the AGF’s directive, calling it long overdue. He emphasized that public parades inflict lasting reputational damage on individuals who may later be found innocent.

“This practice has persisted unnecessarily for years. The Inspector General of Police must ensure that officers across all 36 states comply fully with this directive. If the police have a case against someone, they should take them to court instead of parading them as criminals before trial,” Ozekhome stated.

He further noted that while the media capturing images of suspects outside a courtroom is acceptable, parading individuals before trial violates their rights and must be discontinued.

With this directive, the Nigerian justice system moves closer to aligning with global human rights standards, ensuring that suspects are treated fairly under the law.