NewStats: 3,264,040 , 8,182,383 topics. Date: Monday, 09 June 2025 at 11:52 AM 133735

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has accused the Nigerian judiciary of aiding the unlawful detention of poor citizens by failing to enforce the mandatory monthly inspections of police stations and detention facilities prescribed by law.

Speaking at the 1st NBA Western Zone Human Rights Summit in Ibadan on June 3, 2025, Falana said that despite the enactment of Section 34 of the istration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) in 2015, Chief Magistrates and Judges have neglected their duty to carry out monthly inspections.

According to Falana, the inaction of the judiciary has left the poor vulnerable to arbitrary arrests, torture, and prolonged detention, while wealthy individuals can afford legal representation to protect their rights.

“From the foregoing, it is crystal clear that visiting Chief Magistrates and Judges are empowered to order the release of detainees, or grant them bail or direct that they be arraigned in court,” he said.

According to Falana, since the age of the ACJA, which should challenge illegal arrests and detentions, its protective measures have been observed in breach.

“But since the Act was enacted in May 2015, Chief Magistrates and Judges have failed to enforce the provisions of section 34 of ACJA by visiting all police stations and other detention facilities at least once a month,” he said.

He lamented that while the Chief Justice of Nigeria had directed state Chief Judges to enforce these provisions in 2018, there has been little practical compliance, and the Nigerian Bar Association’s Human Rights Committees have also failed to ensure these inspections take place.

“But in spite of the clear provisions of the ACJA and Police Establishment Act, Chief Magistrates and Judges have failed to conduct monthly visits to police stations and other detention facilities in the country,” he said in his address.

“Hence, the incessant arrest, detention and torture of poor citizens by the Police and other security agencies have since become the order of the day.

“The Nigerian Bar Association has not helped matters as the Human Rights Committee in its 130 branches have failed to ensure that Chief Magistrates and Judges conduct visits to police stations and other detention facilities.”

Falana called for immediate action to protect the fundamental rights of detainees and end what he described as systemic injustice against poor Nigerians.

“Section 34 (1) of the istration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 provides that the Chief Magistrate, or where there is no Chief Magistrate within the police division, any Magistrate designated by the Chief Judge for that purpose, shall, at least every month, conduct an inspection of police stations or other places of detention within his territorial jurisdiction other than the prison,” he said stressing the provisions of the ACJA.

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According to Falana, the inaction of the judiciary has left the poor vulnerable to arbitrary arrests, torture, and prolonged detention, while wealthy individuals can afford legal representation to protect their rights.

A law exists but efficiency denied.
If only this law is taken as serious as the bid to win a case and get a pay.

Everything wants to kill you in Nigeria

Are the judges also politicians?

This is insane!

These Judges do not care.
They are only interested in cases that involve big men and money bags, where they can take bribes through their court registrars.

They don't care if 1 million innocent people are awaiting trial and rotting away on jails..

Some Judges need to be sent to jail sometimes and become inmates with people they put their, so that they can better appreciate the plight of the common man..

It is a crime to be a poor man in Nigeria. You are in trouble if you have no money or no one.

Nigeria is a crime scene..

Animalistic judges

As a poor man,one has to do everything possible to stay out of trouble…if the constitution that says no individual should be detained for more than 24hrs before arraignment is followed then who is the magistrate suppose to go and see in police station?.e come be like the constitution self is not serious.

The Judiciary is not for the poor in Nigeria. It is already a big mess.

It is so sad what our entire legal system has become. Can there by order without obeying and enforcement of laws? What is happening to our judges and all judicial/law officers?

Imagine the level of deprivation, depression, neglect and dishonour these deliberate acts by those who are supposed to uphold the sanctity of the judiciary is having on the poor man. Well, man is not God. Even if the poor are forsaken, God will be there to fight for them.

Many thanks to our highly revered SAN, Femi Falana for always being on the side of the masses. May you continue to be there for us in good health and in sound mind

The situation is very terrible. If u ever get d opportunity to spend your leisure in some police cell or prison, it will 'hardened' your 'criminal'

May Nigeria, just not happen to you.60% of prisoners dont deserved to be locked up.

helinues:
Are the judges also politicians?

Your politicians set the downward and terrible trend everyone, including the judges, has been following.
That's the correlation you aren't so mentally endowed to decipher.

OLAADEGBU:


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According to Falana, the inaction of the judiciary has left the poor vulnerable to arbitrary arrests, torture, and prolonged detention, while wealthy individuals can afford legal representation to protect their rights.

Nigerians are as wicked and evil as their government

the JUDICIAL ARM is .... wildly

.... blessed are the poor indeed. May OLODUMARE hasten the expiry date.

iwaeda:
May Nigeria, just not happen to you.60% of prisoners dont deserved to be locked up.

Many in jail for 10k and 20k

helinues:
Are the judges also politicians?

Then, why are they loyal to Wike and the Presidency? A case study of the defection of the Rivers State House of Assembly whose videos and evidence of detection is all over the Internet.

Major reason why the Correctional facilities are overcrowded