By Abass Latifat
Investigative Journalist, Fisayo Soyombo, while uncovering the ills of the Nigerian Police, reveals yet another Menace of how bail is for sale.
Bail is the process through which an accused person who is arrested on the allegation of committing and offense is released by a constituted authority.
The Nigeria police force is the principal law enforcement agency in Nigeria with a staff strength of about 371,800. The NPF is a very large organization consisting of 36states commands grouped into 12zones and 7 administrative organs.
At least, one police officer asked almost every intimate first thing in the morning if there was someone that wanted to phone a relative or friend, just anyone who could potentially show up at the station with a cash for bail. Those mornings were the only times suspect had the immediate attention of the officers at the counter. Every other time was a struggle , but not for that early morning call. In the case of Maxwell and his four wives who was granted bail after partying N5000 each.
Section 35(a)&(b) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) are explicit detention should be for a period of one day “in the case of an arrest or detention in any place where there is a court of competent, jurisdiction, within a radius of 40km and in an any other case, a period of two days. Detention can only be for a longer period if a court so decides. But in the case of NPF, seems reverse is the case.
