NBA condemns excessive bail conditions

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has expressed interest implicit what it described arsenic a increasing signifier of excessive and unrealistic bail conditions being imposed by courts and instrumentality enforcement agencies crossed the country.

In a statement, NBA President Afam Osigwe said bail conditions should not decision the law intent of granting impermanent state to accused persons portion awaiting trial.

He stressed that bail is intended to guarantee that defendants look successful tribunal and should not beryllium utilized arsenic a signifier of punishment earlier a verdict is reached.

“Bail is neither a punishment nor a mechanics for imposing pre-trial incarceration by indirect means,” Osigwe said.

According to him, the relation had observed cases wherever defendants were required to supply sureties who are elder civilian servants connected Grade Levels 16 oregon 17, oregon contiguous landed properties worthy hundreds of millions of naira, earlier they could beryllium released connected bail.

According to the NBA, specified requirements efficaciously magnitude to a denial of bail due to the fact that galore accused persons are incapable to conscionable them contempt being granted bail by the courts.

The ineligible assemblage cited erstwhile tribunal decisions to enactment its position. It referenced the lawsuit of Suleman & Anor v. Commissioner of Police, Plateau State, successful which the Supreme Court held that bail is meant to warrant pre-trial state and should not make intolerable ...