Access to Justice calls for arrest of CCB boss

Access to Justice (A2J) has called for the arrest of the Chairman, Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) Mr. Danladi Umar and his aides for assaulting a security guard, Mr. Clement Sargwak, at Banex Plaza, Abuja.

The group in a letter to the Commissioner of Police Abuja, Musa Kimopsc gave him seven days, within which to commence the prosecution of the CCB boss and his collaborators.

In the letter, signed by it Deputy director, Deji Ajare, the body warned that it would take out legal proceedings to compel the Commissioner of Police to undertake the prosecution of Umar and his collaborators to ensure that all Nigerians are equally entitled to the protection of the law by complying with these demands.

The group noted that the Police Act 2020, outlines the responsibilities of the Nigeria Police Force for maintaining public safety and order.

The obligation, A2J said, cannot be fulfilled if the Police Force acts arbitrarily and refuses to enforce the criminal laws against persons who have no constitutional immunity simply because of their social, economic or political status.

“In other words, the Police cannot ration justice according to its pleasure. Recall also that Section. 83(2)(c) of the Police Act requires the Police to be fair to all persons in Nigeria notwithstanding their economic status or religious, ethnic or political beliefs or association,” it said.

The body also urged the police to send the case file to the appropriate prosecuting Ministry that is the Ministry of Justice for arraignment and prosecution if they are unwilling to undertake the prosecution of the alleged attackers themselves under section 66 of the Police Act.

It further hinted on the provisions of Section 17 of the 1999 Nigeria Constitution (as amended), which unequivocally states that: ‘The State social order is founded on ideals of freedom, equality and justice and that, in furtherance of this, every citizen shall have equality of rights, obligations and opportunities before the law.’

“This is further underscored by Section 42(1)(b) of the Constitution, which provides that no citizen of Nigeria shall ‘be accorded either expressly by, or in the practical application of any law in force in Nigeria or any such executive or administrative action, any privilege or advantage that is not accorded to citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions.’

“By failing to arrest and charge Umar and his collaborators with crimes they allegedly committed, the Police Force will be conferring on them privileges and advantages that other persons in Nigeria are not accorded, in contravention of Section 42 of Nigeria’s Constitution.

“We would rather prefer that you use this opportunity to demonstrate to Nigerians that the police force is no respecter of persons, will not pervert or miscarry justice and will perform its constitutional and statutory functions fairly and evenly,” the group added.