Police Attributes Crowding In Cells To JUSUN Strike

A police officer
attached to the Rumuokoro Special Area Division has complained of heavy swell of police cells arising from the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria’s industrial action.
The officer, who spoke under the cloak of anonymity expressed regrets over the strike.
He said the police were unable to charge suspects to court as prescribed by the institution because of the strike consequently the number of persons in detention had continued to increase by the day.
On the likelyhood of inmates dying as a result of overcrowding, the officer said that only persons suspected of committing grave crimes were detained in police cells.
The officer said suspects of minor crimes were easily put on bail and given long adjournment to see whether the courts would re-open.
The police officer said that grave crimes were those that were not bailable in a magistrate court while minor crimes were those that the suspect could be bailed in a magistrate court.
He called on the state government to arrest the situation on time before it would lead to a breakdown of law and order.
He said with the court closed access to justice bad been hindered.
According to him, “the police have an uphill task maintaining law and order in situation where there are no courts”.
He urged JUSUN to take the interest of the country first as they work towards the independence of the judiciary.