The Nigeria of yesterday is not the same thing as the Nigeria of today. In the past an avalanche of people mistakenly believe they have no rights against the police while they perform their duties. This accounts for why a suspect can be paraded publicly, exposed to media trial without fair hearing in a competent court of jurisdiction. The reverse must be the case now. The era of swimming in the ocean of ignorance thinking the police are demigod is over.
Ignorance is not an excuse in the court of law. In line with section 36 (5) of the 1999 Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria and Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights Act, arrest does not automatically make a person guilty of an offence. Such a person is presumed innocent until he or she is arraigned in a court of law for fair hearing and proven guilty.
On the 19th of January 2018, two suspects— Kabiru Saidu aka Osama, 31, and Nuhu Salisu aka Small, 25, were paraded by the Police Force Headquarters Public Relation Officer, Mr. Jimoh Moshood, in Kogi State which is a against the law. This has exposed accused persons to media trial before arraigning them in courts. Thus, the practice of subjecting suspects to media trial and parade before arraignment in a criminal court is an infringement of their fundamental rights to fair hearing rule of law and dignity.
And that is why the gang leader, Kabiru Saidu, can boldly say he has been working as a political thug for a politician, who introduced him to Senator Dino Melaye and they met at Airport Road, Abuja inside Senator Melaye’s car in December 2017. Forgetting the need to present pictorial or video evidence of the meeting as mentioned. At least there should be a prepared agreement or documents signed by DINO Melaye to back up the claims of the suspect. Truly to showcase beyond reasonable doubt that he is working for Dino as a political thug, recruiting and training more thugs in preparations for 2019 general election in order to challenge his political opponents and disorganize Kogi State. These claims are unfounded and has no bases in law without tangible evidence, at least voice recorded evidence. Once the confession of a suspect lacks genuine evidence the public parade is perhaps meant to tarnish somebody image which has a boomeranging effect today or in the future.
It becomes preposterous as this political algebra of blackmail is coming at a time. Senator Dino Melaye representing Kogi West Senatorial District raised a serious alarm at the National Assembly. The alarm accusing Kogi State Government of importing prohibited items such as military uniforms, bullet proof vest, night vision goggles, tactical boots among other things. These claims are backed up by valid documents signed and sealed. This does not share same resemblance with moribund arms and ammunition, laughable and misleading evidence the suspected criminals displayed publicly to ruin the image of a man who has a plethora of achievements and unmatchable political structure among his contemporaries.
God pass una.
Nigerian of today, according to Ibrahim Babangida, “are becoming more conscious of their rights; and their ability to speak truth to power and interrogate those elected to represent them without fear of arrest and harassment.”
Any suspected person who is subjected to public parade without being found guilty of any offence must seek redress in the court of law for libel. Because it is an infringement on fundamental right of criminal suspects to fair hearing. Besides, the federal government has had to pay huge monetary damages to victims of media parade and trial conducted from time to time by law enforcement agencies in the country. In fact the law enforcement personnel who engage in the media parade, trial must be reported to the Attorney General of the Federation for prosecution.
The media organization involved in publication of the public parade or photographs of the suspected criminals must be sued for libel. This is in view of the constitutional protection of the fundamental right of all citizens to presumption of innocence until proven guilty by competent court of jurisdiction. Failure or inability of our leaders to publicly parade government officials and functionaries convicted and found guilty for looting national treasuries is a threat to democracy, leave innocent citizens alone. Senator Dino keep your solid front, the blackmail republic is a triviality which will soon fizzle out like paper blown by the wind!
– Inah Stephen Eyiene
Lokoja
