LIVE UPDATES
* Says women, vulnerable should uphold their legal rights
* Women can stand as surety in bail terms
* Call on commissioner of police to aid reduction of arrest in lieu
LAGOS STATE, Nigeria —The Right Enforcement and Public Law Centre (REPLACE) in partnership with the Rule of Law and Anti- corruption (RoLAC) programme, International Idea on Tuesday sensitised residents of Ikeja community in Lagos State on the need to deepened the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) and it's benefits to the society.
The advocacy group affirmed that the full implementation of the law would aid and upheld the rights of women and vulnerable in the state.
Citing section 118 and section 4 of the provisions of the ACJL, the Executive Director, REPLACE, and Human Rights Lawyer, Felicitas Aigbogun-Brai said, the law which had existed in Lagos State since 2015 and then amended in 2021 was yet to gain full recognition among residents which birthed the need for the awareness program.
Sequence to this, the group organised a sensitization program in Ipodo market, Ikeja Lagos State to create awareness about the provisions of the law among market women and those at the grassroots level.
Our correspondent who was at the scene of the sensitization walk reports that, market women were seen with fliers that reads; "Breaking barriers: a woman as surety for bail", "Empowered women, equal rights, equal responsibilities", "them no fit arrest me because them no see my brother!, them no fit arrest me because them no see my friend, no be me commit crime" as they walked around Ipodo community market raising awareness about the Administration of the Criminal Justice Law.
Speaking to journalists during the sensitization walk, Aigbogun-Brai urged residents to use the law to uphold their legal rights in the state.
Aigbogun-Brai who underscored the need for the awareness with regards to the provisions of the ACJL said, "This is a law that was implemented in 2015 but amended in 2021, but not a lot of people know about the law. Even lawyers may know about the law but there are certain provisions of the law which are specific about the rights of women and the rights of vulnerable ordinary people that we want to highlight, hence, the need for this community sensitization program.
"We want the residents of Lagos state to use the law to get their legal rights, be able to get certain things when they are dealing with law enforcement agencies especially the police. So one of the provisions, for example, says that a woman can stand surety as bail in the police station. We know that in practice, a lot of people have complained that women cannot stand as surety. So this law specifically mentions that a woman can stand as surety.
"So we want people to know their rights as stated in the provisions of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Law. And so if a woman wants to stand as surety and anybody says, no, you cannot, the woman can quote the law and insists that based on the provisions of the law, she can stand as surety as long as she meets all the conditions like any man," the Human Right lawyer added.
The Executive Director who stressed that a police officer should not arrest somebody in lieu of another based on the provisions of the law, called on law enforcement agencies, especially the police to ensure full implementation of the law.
Citing section 4 of the law, Aigbogun-Brai said, "The law says in Section 4 that you cannot arrest somebody in lieu of another person. So if my brother, my sister, or my friend commits a crime, the Police cannot detain me, no matter my relationship with the suspect they are looking for.
"We want the people to know that the law also provides that the police cannot arrest somebody in lieu of another. So, we at REPLACE believe that in building awareness, people are bold enough and confident to dialogue with the police or any government agents to say the law doesn't allow you to do this," she added.
She highlighted various groups REPLACE had sensitised on the provisions and efficacy of the full implementation of the Laws to include; the police force, lawyers, legal aid providers, the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, National Human Rights Commission, the NBA branches, International Federation of Women Lawyers.
Others included the professional women representing some churches, professional groups among others.
The program which is sponsored by the International Idea and the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Program (RoLAC) received funds from the European Union.
Key areas the sensitization addressed:
*Grassroots residents in Lagos state to be fully informed about the Administration of Criminal Justice Law
* Police to reduce the number of arrests in lieu, and an
* Increased number of women confidently visiting the police station and standing as surety for bail.
The Executive Director therefore called on the government; the commissioner of police to respect the rights of women to stand as surety in bail proceedings in the police state.
She said, "We call on the government, in this case, the commissioner of police to respect the rights of women to stand as surety in bail proceedings in the police station. We want the police to stop arresting people in view of the criminal or "the suspect" that they are looking for. They can question, they can invite but not to the point of arresting."
While commending the advocacy group, a market woman and indigene of Ikeja, Lagos state, Mrs Omotayo Adedoyin said, the move was indeed timely, adding that, the enlightenment no doubt would foster confidence among market women to know their rights in respect with the provisions of the ACJL.
She said, "We can now go to the police station and be granted bail privilege according to the provisions of the law. I am excited about this advocacy and call for full implementation of the law."
Earlier, a market woman, simply identified as Tesilimot Oriyomi, called for more laws to uphold women's rights in the society.
She said, "It is not good for a man to suppress a woman or even a law. I commend the advocacy group and back the full implementation of the provisions of AJCL. The law is a welcome development."
