Argungu stresses importance of presuming innocence and dignity for detainees

Stanley Ihedigbo

Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), DIG Hashimu Argungu (Rtd), has emphasized the importance of presuming innocence and upholding dignity for detainees during a training program on international Human Rights-based policing and effective oversight of personnel.

According to the Head, Press and Public Relations, PSC, Mr. Ikechukwu Ani, speaking at an opening ceremony of a training programme on international Human Rights-based policing and effective oversight of personnel of the commission in Abuja, organised by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Chairman, -rayed human treatment of arrested suspects and declared that a suspect shall “be accorded human treatment, having regard to his right to the dignity of his person and not be subjected to any form of torture, cruelty, inhuman or degrading treatment.

In his topic, “The Role of Police Service Commission in Oversight and Monitoring of the Nigeria Police Force Officials as Individuals and the Service as a Whole: Accountability and Transparency on the Condition of Stop, search, arrest, Police Custody and Pre-trial Detention in Nigeria”, he noted that a suspect shall not be arrested merely on a civil wrong or breach of contract and shall be brought before the court as prescribed by law or otherwise released conditionally or unconditionally.

He explained that a person shall not for any reason be arrested in place of a suspect adding that the law prohibits the handcuffing or any other unnecessary restrain of an arrested person, except ” there is reasonable apprehension of violence or an attempt to escape; the restrain is considered necessary for the safety of the suspect or defendant or by order of court”.

The PSC Chairman said all over the world, Police Officers generally have broad powers to carry out their functions and duties.

He, however, noted that the Constitution, as amended, and other procedural laws, however, er, place limits on how far Police can go in trying to enforce the law.

According to him, one of the primary purposes of these laws is to protect citizens from abuses by the government, including police misconduct.

The Chairman also today received three delegations, one from the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust, the Nigeria Youth Organisation led by Comrade Okorie C. Okorie, and the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria led by Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko.