Lawyer and activist, Femi Falana (SAN) has urged members of the National Assembly (NASS) to domesticate the United Nations (UN) Minimum Standard for the Treatment of Criminal Suspects in the country.
He described the manner the Police arraigned the Senator in Abuja and Lokoja as “particularly degrading and humiliating” and “a breach of his fundamental rights”.
In a statement issued in Lagos Thursday, Falana advised the law makers to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the travails of Senator Dina Melaye in adopting the law without further delay as part of the nation’s criminal justice reform.
The statement is titled “Melaye’s case provides an opportunity to reform our criminal justice”.
It stated: “the arraignment of Senator Dino Melaye in a stretcher in Abuja Thursday and Lokoja this morning is unacceptable in a civilised society.
It stated: “the arraignment of Senator Dino Melaye in a stretcher in Abuja Thursday and Lokoja this morning is unacceptable in a civilised society.
“It is particularly degrading and humiliating as it violates the fundamental right to the dignity of his person guaranteed by Section 34 of the Constitution and Section 7 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
“Even though the Senator has my sympathy, it is indistinguishable that he has only been given a little dose of the humiliating treatment that is daily meted out to the flotsam and jetsam of our unjust society by the Nigeria Police Force and other law enforcement agencies in Nigeria.
“Therefore, the senator’s case should not be treated in isolation by the Senate and the bourgeois media.
“While the solidarity of the federal legislators with Senator Melaye is understandable the tragic turn of events calls for sober reflection.
“Apart from joining the call for the immediate release of Sheik Ibraheem Elzakzaky and Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) in line with the valid and subsisting orders of competent courts,
the National Assembly is called upon to take advantage of Senator Melaye’s case to adopt and domesticate the United Nations Minimum Standard for the Treatment of Criminal Suspects in Nigeria without any delay,” he stated. - The Nation
the National Assembly is called upon to take advantage of Senator Melaye’s case to adopt and domesticate the United Nations Minimum Standard for the Treatment of Criminal Suspects in Nigeria without any delay,” he stated. - The Nation
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