By: Ighomuaye Lucky. O
With the strong desire to ensure that the rights of the citizens are well protected and are not detained arbitrarily, the leadership of Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO), led by the Interim TEC Secretary, Leftist Grace Okike, has paid an advocacy visit to the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa.
The group also visited other senior members of the bench over series of petitions received from the public on the use of trumped-up charges by some officers of police in getting prison remands.
Leftist Okike said the meeting which was at the instance of EDOCSO was to draw the attention of the Judiciary and the Chief Judge in particular to the new trend of officers of the Nigeria Police Force, where they use trumped-up charges to remand suspects in prisons custody.
She said this singular act has contributed largely to the congestion in various prisons in the state.
Also speaking, Leftist Aliyu Umweni, the Interim Public Relations Officer EDOCSO, alleged that in recent times, the security agencies most especially the Nigeria Police Force have used the trumped-up charges to send innocent citizens to prisons, knowingly and unknowingly either to favour the highest bidder or to cover up their inability to do proper investigation on cases being reported to them.
He added that as we all know, the ACJA law of Edo state clearly states the manner and ways cases and suspects should be followed, most at times the laws are not usually followed, thereby leading to the violation of citizen’s rights.
He said at the end of the visit, the Chief Judge promised to look into the issues raised and follow it up to the benefits of the citizens and residents of the state.