Stakeholders in the Administration of Criminal Justice, have advocated for the strict adherence to the provisions of the nation’s anti-torture Acts which prohibits secret detention facilities, solitary confinement, incommunicado detentions, and physical or mental torture of suspects in law enforcement custody.
The decision-makers said civility in extracting confessional statements from suspects and humane in handling defendants who are legally interviewed should be observed at all times.
They gave the charge during the Inter-Agency Training Workshop organised by CLEEN Foundation, with support from Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) program on Criminal Justice Legislations held in Benin City, Edo state.
The workshop had personnel from Department of State Services, Police, Judiciary, the Bar, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Commission (ICPC) among others in attendance.
The stakeholders called for punishment for officers guilty of torturing suspects.
They commended the organisers of the workshop, adding that it has brought them up to speed with the anti-torture Act and the need to upholding fundamental rights of suspects.
Earliar, the Program officer of CLEEN Foundation, Edo office, Blessing Eromon, said the workshop is geared to show the security agencies a pathway for the provisions of Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACİL) in Edo state; in order to restore public interest back to the justice system.
She lauded RoLAC for the support of the workshop, adding that the program has afforded the security agencies the platform to learn.
