Juliana Francis
The Lagos State Police Command today 28th July 2022, clarifies the situation of what transpired between the Police Area Commander in Ikorodu and Magistrate Ganiyat Anifowose at the area command.
According to the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Benjamin Hundeyin, it became necessary to clarify issues following negative reports making the rounds about the Police Area Commander in Ikorodu marching Magistrate Ganiyat Anifowose out of the premises of the Area Command.
Hundeyin said: “The record needs to be set straight. On July 27, 2022, the Magistrate came into the Area Command with about 10 lawyers, which is totally against the procedure for monthly cell visits by Magistrates. The lawyers she needlessly came with started taking pictures and making video recordings, a practice the Area Commander staunchly refused, because again, it is against the laid down procedure.
Furthermore, a Magistrate cell visit is totally different from Police Duty Solicitor Scheme (PDSS) visit, which is targeted at providing legal services to suspects who are indigent. This, the Police have been doing well in collaboration with the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria. It was therefore inappropriate for the Magistrate to have visited with a PDSS team.
“In the instant case, the visit by the Magistrate was conducted contrary to the Provisions of the ACJL 2021, which the Police have been trained on and are abiding by. The Area Commander having observed all the lapses had no choice but to insist on the right procedure. Contrary to the reports, the Area Commander did not and would never walk a Magistrate out of the Police Command. The Area Commander, of course, asked the lawyers to wait outside the station, since they were not part of the monthly visit by law. Rather, the Magistrate opted to go with them, saying she could not carry out her visit without the lawyers.
“At no point did armed men harass the Magistrate. Armed men are routinely within the premises of police formations. Having set the record straight, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Abiodun Alabi, reiterates that the Police Command will continually cooperate and work with the judiciary and all other stakeholders in the administration of justice to ensure a smooth dispensation of criminal Justice within the State.”
