The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has sent a strong message to security agents in Nigeria: stop holding suspects in detention longer than the law allows. He emphasized that security officers must follow Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution, which outlines the rights of suspects in custody.
Speaking on Thursday in Abuja at the annual lecture hosted by the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), the AGF made it clear that any security agent who keeps suspects in detention beyond the constitutionally permitted time will face serious consequences. He stressed the importance of law enforcement officers being thorough before making arrests. He noted that the practice of leaving people to languish in detention cells beyond the legally allowed time or court orders would no longer be accepted. Those who violate these laws will be punished accordingly.
Lateef Fagbemi stated that the government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will not tolerate any actions that violate human rights. As the Chief Law Officer of the country, he committed to ensuring that no one’s rights are trampled upon.
