Argungu Calls For Human Treatment Of Arrested Suspects' Right To Dignity Of Their Persons
ICRC hosts training on Human Rights-based policing and oversight at the Police Service Commission in Abuja, focusing on the humane treatment of suspects and accountability in Nigeria.
... says they should not be subjected to any form of torture, inhuman or degrading
By Ikechukwu Ani
A training programme on international Human Rights-based policing and effective oversight of personnel of the Police Service Commission has commenced at the Parry Osayande Auditorium of the Police Service Commission in Abuja. The programme is organised by the International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC.
Speaking on the occasion, with the theme on "The Role of Police Service Commission in oversight and Monitoring of the Nigeria Police Force Officials as Individuals and the Service as a Whole: Accountability and Transparency on the condition of stop, search, arrest, Police Custody and Pre-trial detention in Nigeria" the Chairman of the Commission, Deputy Inspector General of IG Hashimu Argungu rtd, x-rayed human treatment of arrested suspects and declared that a suspect shall "be accorded human treatment, having regard to his right to the dignity of his person and not be subjected to any form of torture, cruelty, inhuman or degrading treatment.
DIG Argungu noted that a suspect shall not be arrested merely on a civil wrong or breach of contract and shall be brought before the court as prescribed by law or otherwise released conditionally or unconditionally.
He explained that a person shall not for any reason be arrested in place of a suspect adding that the law prohibits the handcuffing or any other unnecessary restrain of an arrested person, except " there is reasonable apprehension of violence or an attempt to escape; the restrain is considered necessary for the safety of the suspect or defendant or by order of court".
The PSC Chairman said all over the world, Police Officers generally have broad powers to carry out their functions and duties.
He however noted that the Constitution as amended and other procedural laws however place limits on how far Police can go in trying to enforce the law.
According to him, one of the primary purposes of these laws is to protect citizens from abuses by government, including police misconduct .
The Chairman also today received three delegations, one from the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust; the Nigeria Youth Organisation led by Comrade Okorie C. Okorie and the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria led by Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko.
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