*Give 2 Weeks For Agencies To Stop Phone Grabs
The Nigerian Bar Association’s Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) has written letters condemning the widespread practice of security agencies confiscating lawyers’ phones during office visits.
The letters dated January 10, 2024 addressed to the Inspector-General of Police, Director-General of DSS and Chairman of EFCC highlight that this practice is illegal, undermines suspects’ constitutional right to legal representation, and violates lawyers’ privacy and rights.
NBA-SPIDEL contends that though lawyers routinely visit these agencies’ offices for lawful duties like accompanying clients, seizing their phones for entire visits prevents receiving urgent calls and exposes phones to privacy violations by officers mining data.
The association demands all agencies cease this unconstitutional practice within 14 days, failing which NBA-SPIDEL will legally challenge it in court to protect legal practitioners’ rights while discharging professional duties.
As per Sadiya Saleh, Publicity Secretary for NBA-SPIDEL, the letters urge security heads to stop harassment of lawyers and improve human rights compliance.
Officers cannot undermine justice system processes by hampering lawyers’ legitimate work.
NIALS' Compendia Series: Your One-Stop Solution For Navigating Nigerian Laws (2004-2023)
Email: info@nials.edu.ng, tugomak@yahoo.co.uk, Contact: For Inquiry and information, kindly contact, NIALS Director of Marketing: +2348074128732, +2348100363602.