Human rights,
lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), has described the arraignment of Senator Dino Melaye on a stretcher as unacceptable in a
civilized society.
Melaye was
arraigned at an Abuja court on Wednesday, where he was re-arrested for
re-arraignment on Thursday at a Kogi court on allegations bordering on
gunrunning. He eventually lost his appeal for bail and will therefore spend up
to five weeks in Police custody.
All this happened despite Melaye arriving
court in a stretcher, following injuries he sustained while jumping out of a
moving vehicle when the Police initially arrested him in April — a situation
Falana is unhappy with.
“It is
particularly degrading and humiliating as it violates the fundamental right to
the dignity of his person guaranteed by Section 34 of the Constitution and
Section 7 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015,” the lawyer
said.
“Even
though the senator has my sympathy it is indistinguishable that he has only
been given a little dose of the humiliating treatment that is daily meted out
to the flotsam and jetsam of our unjust society by the Nigeria Police Force and
other law enforcement agencies in Nigeria.
“Therefore,
the senator's case should not be treated in isolation by the Senate and the
bourgeois media. While the solidarity of the federal legislators with Senator
Melaye is understandable the tragic turn of events calls for sober reflection.
“Apart
from joining the call for the immediate release of Sheik Ibraheem El Zakzaky
and Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) in line with the valid and subsisting orders
of competent courts, the National Assembly is called upon to take advantage of
Senator Melaye's case to adopt and domesticate the United Nations Minimum
Standard for the Treatment of Criminal Suspects in Nigeria without any delay.
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