Benin city – The Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO), has kicked against the alleged abuse of holding charges by Edo state police command.
The organization called on the commissioner of police, Johnson Kokumo, to look into the activities of the command’s legal department.
The Public Relations Officer, EDOCSO, Comrade Osazee Edigin, made the organization’s position known recently in Benin city via the Group’s social media platform, while reacting to the remand and subsequent release of one Mr. Joseph Amadasun from prison custody.
Comr Edigin frowned at the remand of suspects in prison custody as a result of what he termed “unprofessional manner” in which cases are handled.
He added that, poor handling of cases by the legal department, has contributed immensely to the command’s defeat in court in recent times
The EDOCSO spokesperson called on the commissioner of police, Johnson Kokumo to “flush out” officers from the department, whose conducts are capable of ridiculing the command.
“It should be noted that, there are hundreds of such victims of Holding Charges in prison custody who have been there up to a year waiting for DPP advice that will exonerate them so as to be able to unite with their families.
“Edo civil society organizations have vowed to instigate a true reform in the administration of criminal justice vis-à-vis Holding Charge in Nigeria. This is a task we will accomplish to guard against further abuse by prosecuting agencies”, Edigin stated.
However, Spokesman of the Edo Command, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, said, holding charges is an administrative procedure and not a personal matter that can be abused.
The Edo police image maker added that, suspects are usually prosecuted after 24hours in police custody and that it is the court that decides if suspects are to be remanded or release.
