The Lagos State House of Assembly has passed a bill forbidding the police from parading suspects before the media.

The bill was passed on Monday at a sitting which was presided over by Deputy Speaker Wasiu Eshilokun-Sanni.

Section 9(A) of the newly passed bill states: “As from the commencement of this law, the police shall refrain from parading any suspect before the media.”

The bill also laid down factors under which a law enforcement officer can arrest without a warrant. A person must be reasonably suspected to unlawfully own firearms or other such dangerous instruments before they can be arrested.

A subsection of the bill also barred the police or any other agency from arresting a person “in place of any other person in a criminal matter.”

The bill adds that a person who is arrested “shall be given reasonable facilities for obtaining legal advice, bail or making arrangements for defence or release.”

The bill stipulates that a suspect should be “accorded humane treatment, with the right to dignity of the person; not 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.”