• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
THE MEDIA PARADE OF SEUN KUTI AND ITS LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

THE MEDIA PARADE OF SEUN KUTI AND ITS LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

How Notorious Lagos-Yahoo-Boy defraud U.S. President Donald Trump of 2025 Inauguration Funds

How Notorious Lagos-Yahoo-Boy defraud U.S. President Donald Trump of 2025 Inauguration Funds

Nigerian Banks resume International Transactions on Naira Cards

Nigerian Banks resume International Transactions on Naira Cards

ADC website Crashes as Nigerians flood site to join Coalition Party

ADC website Crashes as Nigerians flood site to join Coalition Party

Former Arsenal Midfielder, Partey Charged With Rape

Former Arsenal Midfielder, Partey Charged With Rape

Court stops Senate disciplinary action against Natasha Akpoti

Breaking: Court orders Senate to recall Suspended Natasha

Court finds Natasha Guilty of Contempt

Court finds Natasha Guilty of Contempt

Former President Buhari hospitalised in London

Former President Buhari hospitalised in London

EXAMINING THE LEGAL RIGHTS OF A PERSON WHOSE PHOTOGRAPH IS TAKEN: CAN THEY SUE UNDER THE NIGERIAN COPYRIGHT ACT?

EXAMINING THE LEGAL RIGHTS OF A PERSON WHOSE PHOTOGRAPH IS TAKEN: CAN THEY SUE UNDER THE NIGERIAN COPYRIGHT ACT?

PHYSICAL AND ONLINE INFRINGEMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW

PHYSICAL AND ONLINE INFRINGEMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW

How Mark, Aregbesola Emerge as Party Chairman, Secretary for New Coalition ADC

How Mark, Aregbesola Emerge as Party Chairman, Secretary for New Coalition ADC

Nigerian Government gives Foreigners Deadline to renew Visas, Leave or Face $15 Daily fine, Others

Nigerian Government gives Foreigners Deadline to renew Visas, Leave or Face $15 Daily fine, Others

Popular Islamic Cleric, Gbadebo Raji, 3 Others Face Criminal Complaint Over Alleged Defamatory Remarks on Ilorin’s Religious Practices

Popular Islamic Cleric, Gbadebo Raji, 3 Others Face Criminal Complaint Over Alleged Defamatory Remarks on Ilorin’s Religious Practices

  • About Us
  • Advertise with Us
  • Editorial Policy
Saturday, July 5, 2025
  • Login
iDeemlawful
  • Home
  • News
  • Featured
  • Politics
  • Life Style
  • Advertise with Us
  • Opinion
  • Campus
No Result
View All Result
iDeemlawful
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
iDeemlawful
  • Home
  • News
  • Featured
  • Politics
  • Commentary
  • Editorial
  • Campus
Home Commentary

THE MEDIA PARADE OF SEUN KUTI AND ITS LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

by iDeemlawful
May 16, 2023
A A
THE MEDIA PARADE OF SEUN KUTI AND ITS LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
FacebookTwitterWhatsapp

By Mustapha Babalola Toheeb
Yesterday, photographs of Seun Kuti who had gone to the police station in order to report himself flooded the internet with the photos showing that he was handcuffed. This was also confirmed by his lawyer, Mr Olumide Fusika SAN who claimed that before his client was moved to the Force Criminal Investigation Unit at Panti, Yaba, Mr. Seun Kuti, was handcuffed and his photograph taken in the open by the Lagos PPRO, Mr. Benjamin Hundeyin who coordinated the parade.


The act of media parade has been a matter of controversy recently as it has always a face-off between the Police and the Lagos State Government coupled the with legal representatives of the affected individuals.

Before delving into what is the position of law on media parade of suspects, it is important to state the meaning of media parade.

RelatedPosts

EXAMINING THE LEGAL RIGHTS OF A PERSON WHOSE PHOTOGRAPH IS TAKEN: CAN THEY SUE UNDER THE NIGERIAN COPYRIGHT ACT?

PHYSICAL AND ONLINE INFRINGEMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW

DEMOCRACY ON TRIAL: A LEGAL REFLECTION ON 25+ YEARS OF CIVILIAN RULE IN NIGERIA

Daura v U.B.N PLC: Landmark Supreme Court Decision on ‘Estate and Debt’ Responsibilities after Death


Media parade essentially means the practice of displaying or communicating to the public, via the media, about an incident or development. In the case of the arrest of a suspect, it is a means of informing the public, usually through publishing on the internet, the identities and offence of these suspects.


Every individual has inherent fundamental rights which have been respected by the Nigerian Constitution in section 33 – 45 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). As a part of these rights, the law recognizes and respects the presumption of innocence of every suspect which is embedded in section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) which states thus:


“Every person who is charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed to be innocent until he is proved guilty”. 


Additionally, Article 7(1)(b) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights Act, 2004 states that:


“Every individual shall have the right to have his cause heard. This comprises the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty by a competent court or tribunal”.


In other words, when a person has been suspected to have committed a criminal offence, the law deems such person innocent until proven and pronounced guilty by a competent court of record. The court has further recognized this principle in the case of Yakubu v. State (2014) LPELR – 24180 (CA) as where it was stated:
“By section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), every person charged with a criminal offence is presumed innocent, until he is proven guilty. This provision simply translated is what is known as the principle of presumption of innocence”.


It is quite unfortunate that the Nigerian Police Force has not entirely paid much respect to the presumption of innocence of suspects. This is due to their consistent and demeaning practice of parading suspects through the media. This usual practice by the Nigerian Police Force, which portrays a person including Seun Kuti who is the latest victim as guilty to the public, is an outright disobedience and violation to the provision of section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Article 7(1)(b) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights Act, 2004, and consequently, a violation of human rights.


While the Police believes it is within its power under the Nigeria Police Act 2020, to parade suspects before the media with a view to protecting lives and property, prevent, detect, and prosecute crimes, the newly enacted Lagos State Criminal Justice Law, 2021, which adopted the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 (ACJA), specifically outlaws parading of suspects before the media. Aside the laudable provisions of this law that bar the Police or other security agencies from arresting a person “in lieu of any other person”, and that “a suspect should be accorded humane treatment with the right to dignity of person; not to be subjected to any form of torture, cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment; be brought before the court as prescribed by this law or any other written law; or be released conditionally or unconditionally”, it is section 9(a) of the Lagos State Criminal Justice Law, 2021, that forbids media parade. It provides that:
“[a]s from the commencement of this law, the police shall refrain from parading any suspect before the media.”


Media parade has been chastised by the court. This evident in NDUKWEM CHIZIRI NICE V. AG, FEDERATION & ANOR. (2007) CHR 218 at 232, Justice Banjoko held that:


“The act of parading him (the suspect) before the press as evidenced by the Exhibits annexed to the affidavit was uncalled for and a callous disregard for his person. He was shown to the public the next day of his arrest even without any investigation conducted in the matter. He was already prejudged by the police who are incompetent, so to have such function, it is the duty of the court to pass a verdict of guilt and this constitutes a clear breach of section 36(4) and (5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 on the doctrine of fair hearing.”

Similarly, the Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS Court in Dyot Bayi & 14 Ors. v. Federal Republic of Nigeria (2004-2009) CCJLER 245 at 265, followed the same principle where it condemned the media trial of the applicants when it held that:


“The court is of the opinion that for the fact that the defendants presented the applicants before the press when no judge or court has found them guilty, certainly constitute a violation of the principle of presumption of innocence such as provided in Article 7(b) of the same African Charter…”.


Our security agencies have always anchored on the rationale that such parading may be to demonstrate that the Government is succeeding with its crime-fighting. But, this is not sufficient to permit such ancient practice, because it does not add any value or efficiency whatsoever in the criminal investigation and conviction processes. If anything, such crude practice undermines the investigation process. Worse still, it defames the suspect’s reputation in an irreversible manner, where such a suspect is eventually proven innocent.


In any event, even where the suspect is proven guilty by the courts at the end of the trial, then, it would seem the suspect would have suffered double punishment and sentence (double jeopardy) – first, for being paraded; and second, now serving the actual sentence. Public parade thus breaches a suspect’s fundamental right.


I humbly call on the Nigeria Police Force to desist from media parade which does not just subject the suspects to media trial but it also infringes on their fundamental human rights which has been adequately protected and guaranteed by the law.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mustapha Babalola Toheeb is a final year student of Faculty of Law, Bayero University, Kano. He can be reached via his mail; toheebmustapha15@gmail.com; and his phone number, 08106244073.

Tags: GPS GadgetLaw articlesMustapha Babalola ToheebSeun kuti
Previous Post

Turkey Election: Erdogan Reacts As Run-off Confirmed

Next Post

Guinness World Records Publishes Official Statement about Hilda Baci

iDeemlawful

iDeemlawful

Related Posts

EXAMINING THE LEGAL RIGHTS OF A PERSON WHOSE PHOTOGRAPH IS TAKEN: CAN THEY SUE UNDER THE NIGERIAN COPYRIGHT ACT?
Commentary

EXAMINING THE LEGAL RIGHTS OF A PERSON WHOSE PHOTOGRAPH IS TAKEN: CAN THEY SUE UNDER THE NIGERIAN COPYRIGHT ACT?

PHYSICAL AND ONLINE INFRINGEMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW
Commentary

PHYSICAL AND ONLINE INFRINGEMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW

Saint Lucia confers Highest National Honour on Tinubu [Video]
Breaking News

Saint Lucia confers Highest National Honour on Tinubu [Video]

Peter Obi declares 2027 Presidential Ambition
Featured

Peter Obi declares 2027 Presidential Ambition

Tinubu resolves Rivers Crisis, reunites Fubara, Wike, Lawmakers (Video)
Featured

Tinubu resolves Rivers Crisis, reunites Fubara, Wike, Lawmakers (Video)

What Benefits Tinubu’s New Tax Laws Mean for Nigerians and Businesses?
Business News

What Benefits Tinubu’s New Tax Laws Mean for Nigerians and Businesses?

Ibas faults NBA for moving Conference from Rivers to Enugu, demands Refund of N300m Hosting Rights
Featured

Rivers LG Administrator Resigns

2027: Atiku, Amaechi, El-rufai form New Political Party, writes INEC
Featured

2027: Atiku, Amaechi, El-rufai form New Political Party, writes INEC

DEMOCRACY ON TRIAL: A LEGAL REFLECTION ON 25+ YEARS OF CIVILIAN RULE IN NIGERIA
Breaking News

DEMOCRACY ON TRIAL: A LEGAL REFLECTION ON 25+ YEARS OF CIVILIAN RULE IN NIGERIA

Air India Plane carrying 242 Passengers Crashes after Takeoff (Video)
Featured

Air India Plane carrying 242 Passengers Crashes after Takeoff (Video)

Load More

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

iDeemlawful

Copyright © 2019–2025 Deemlawful Media

  • About Us
  • Advertise with Us
  • Editorial Policy

Connect With Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Featured
  • Politics
  • Life Style
  • Advertise with Us
  • Opinion
  • Campus

Copyright © 2019–2025 Deemlawful Media

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In