LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF PRE-TRIAL BAIL OF SUSPECTS BY NIGERIA POLICE: A CRITIQUE

Abstract

Nigerian law gives police officers power to arrest and detain persons suspected to have committed criminal offences. After the arrest and detention of a suspect, the Police are further given the power to release the suspect or charge him to court. However, overwhelming reports suggest that police officers demand and collect bribe before deciding to release suspects or charge them to court. A number of factors prop this practice. These factors persist despite the presence of extant laws in this area. It was hoped that the most recent extant law, Administration of Criminal Justice Act signed into law on 13th May 2015, would have put in place provisions to check this practice but it, sadly, failed to do so. Suggestions were consequently proffered to deal with this practice and the factors that prop it.