Senate moves to stop jungle justice

chika ebuzor

November 23, 2016 7:19 AM

Sani also said Nigerians have resorted to jungle justice because they do not trust the police.

The Nigerian Senate has finalised moves to stop the practice of jungle justice in the country.

Senators on Tuesday, November 22, 2106, frowned at the practice and called on the Minister of Justice, state Attorney Generals and the Police to arrest and prosecute those involved.

According to Vanguard, the lawmakers also asked the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to ensure the speedy passage of the anti-jungle justice bill.

The Senate also called on the Nigerian police to stand up to its responsibilities and protect Nigerians.

Speaking on the on the issue, Senator Shehu Sani said Nigerians have resorted to jungle justice because they do not trust the police.

According to the Senator who passed the motion, Gbenga Ashafa,“The Senate is distressed by the rising cases of jungle justice by mobs that have arrogated to themselves the power to condemn others to death and execute judgement without recourse to the law courts in different parts of Nigeria. “The Senate is worried about this trend, especially the case of a young man recently lynched in Orile area of Lagos State for stealing.

“Horrified that these rising barbaric acts are in most cases, perpetrated with a crowd of people watching unperturbed is most disheartening as each act dehumanizes us as a race.

“ Furious that this is happening and continues to become more alarming everyday in these considerable hard conditions our people are passing through.

“Disgusted that this is not the first time in the country that mobs have engaged’ in jungle justice. Some of the instances of jungle justice are still fresh in our memories. We can never forget when four young boys, Ugonna Obuzor, Toku Lloyd, Chiadika Biringa, and Tekena Elkanah, all students of the University of Port Harcourt were lynched in 2012 after they were falsely accused of being thieves at Aluu, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.’’

Also speaking on the issue, Senator Ali Ndume said “The case of a 7- year-old at Orile, Lagos, has gone viral and that is why myself and the mover of the motion said we should ask the police to confirm or deny because sometimes social media messages can be faulty.

“We have had several times leaders being stripped naked in the public by mob. We really need to standup to this and condemn it and, in fact, move further to do something, otherwise we are going to have a society where everybody that is strong enough or have the number can take the law into their hands.

‘’This case is very serious and this Senate is not for standing up occasions like this and I urge my colleagues to support this very simple, straight forward motion. We must look at doing something about the disorderliness and the mob action that is so recurrent in our society these days.’’

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), has slammed the Senate for delaying the appointment of the EFCC boss, Ibrahim Magu.

chika ebuzor