By Olawale Lamina
A civil rights group, World Institute for Peace, WIP, has drawn the attention of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to as a matter of urgency, issue a warning to all justices and judges across courts in the country over their alleged penchant for granting bail applications to individuals accused of terrorism, murder and kidnapping, because of the possible implications to the victims’ family.
WIP, in a statement on Sunday, lamented the alleged practice by judges as unfortunate and capable of negatively impacting the lives of family members of those who suffered from kidnapping and other such offences.
A statement signed by the Executive Director, WIP, Lamina Kamiludeen Omotoyosi, ( a copy of which was made available to The Pinnacle Times) said: “It has come to our attention that some justices and judges have been granting bail to individuals who have been declared wanted for capital offences by the Nigeria Police Force. This practice is not only sad but also dangerous to the lives of the families of the victims and the society at large.
“Granting bail to individuals accused of such heinous crimes puts the safety and security of the public at risk.
“These individuals pose a serious threat to society and should not be allowed to roam freely while awaiting trial. By granting bail to these suspects, justices and judges are endangering the lives of innocent citizens and undermining the justice system.”
The rights body called on the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, to take immediate action and warn all justices and judges in the country to exercise caution when considering bail applications for individuals accused of terrorism, murder and kidnapping.
It further advised that suspects should be kept in remand until the delivery of judgment. WIP noted that this is a way of ensuring the safety of the public especially the complainants.
“World Institute for Peace strongly condemns the practice of granting bail to individuals accused of terrorism, murder and kidnapping.
Justices and judges have a responsibility to protect the public and “uphold the rule of law.
” We call on the Attorney-General of the Federation to take swift action to address this issue and ensure that justice is served in Nigeria,” stated the executive director.
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