The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN has warned security agents in the country against detaining suspects beyond the time allowed by law.
The AGF specifically admonished security agents to always abide by the provisions of section 35 of the 1999 Constitution in relation to rights of suspects in their custody.
Fagbemi who spoke on Thursday in Abuja at the yearly lecture of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), warned that any security agents found detaining suspects beyond the period allowed by the Constitution would be severely sanctioned.
In his lecture titled, “Governance, Security, and Human Rights”, Fagbemi said, law enforcement agents must adopt due diligence before arresting anyone adding that situations where people are languishing in detention cells beyond the time allowed under the Constitution or by order of the courts, will no longer be tolerated and appropriate sanctions shall be meted out to those found guilty of contravening the laws of the land.
According to him, the government of President Bola Tinubu will not condone any reprehensible action and as the Chief Law Officer of this country, he will ensure no one tramples on the rights of another person.
“On this note, I wish to remind our law enforcement agents that they must respect the laws of the land and not keep people in detention beyond a reasonable time as stipulated in section 35 of the Constitution of the 1999 Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The collaboration of HURIWA in this endeavor cannot be overstated. Your tireless advocacy and public education are vital to the advancement of human rights in Nigeria. As we commemorate this 17th lecture series, let us renew our commitment to working together for a Nigeria where good governance, security, and human rights coexist harmoniously.
‘Let us strive to create a society where every Nigerian can live free from fear and oppression, where their rights are respected, and where justice prevails,” he pleaded.
ALSO READ THESE TOP STORIES FROM TheWitness