LEDAP said in the administration of criminal justice in Nigeria, Section 36 sub-section (1) and (5) of the 1999 Constitution guarantees the fundamental right to fair hearing and the presumption of innocence. xAccording to them, the core sense of the fundamental right to fair hearing is to ensure that in determination of civil rights and obligations, the process and administration of criminal justice is conducted in such a way as to guarantee independence and impartiality. “Hence, the recent police parade of Chidinma Adaora Ojukwu by the Nigeria Police Force clearly violates her fundamental right to fair hearing as provided under the Nigerian Constitution. Furthermore, the group explained that the Courts have in several decisions condemned such a public parade of criminal suspects as an illegal practice. “For example, in Ndukwem Chiziri Nice v AG, Federation & Anor (2007) CHR218 at 232, Justice Banjoko of FCT High Court held that “The act of parading a suspect before the press as evidenced by the Exhibits annexed to the affidavit was uncalled for and a callous disregard for his person,” it cited.

Source: The Guardian July 06, 2021 03:45 UTC