(VOICE OF NAIJA)- Traders at Mile 12 Market last week received members of the Rights Enforcement and Public Law Centre (REPLACE), a non-governmental organisation aimed at promoting best practices in the criminal justice system in Nigeria.
The visit was to create awareness and enlighten traders, particularly women, on the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) of Lagos State and how it protects their rights.
Some of the traders shared personal experiences during the engagement, highlighting challenges they have faced in the hands of law enforcement officers.
A yam seller, Jubril Bala, alleged that he and his relatives have been subjected to harassment, attributing it to ethnic profiling. “Because we are northerners, they pick us up and make sure we pay before we are released,” he said.
Also speaking, a vegetable trader, Tawakalitu Ajanj, described the awareness campaign as timely and impactful, noting that it exposed her to rights she was previously unaware of. “I didn’t know about the ACJL before, but now I know who to call when in trouble,” she said.
The initiative, supported by the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme, is part of REPLACE’s continued effort to empower women and vulnerable groups with knowledge of their legal rights while correcting misconceptions surrounding the ACJL.
The Executive Director of REPLACE, Felicitas Aigbogun-Brai, emphasised the importance of educating women on key provisions of the law, noting that many remain unaware of safeguards put in place to protect them.
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“One of such provision allows women to act as sureties at police stations, a right often denied due to entrenched biases. The law clearly states that a woman can stand as surety if she meets the same conditions as a man, hence, women need to know and insist on this right.”
She also highlighted Section 4 of the ACJL, which prohibits the arrest of individuals in place of suspects. “If your relative or friend is a suspect, the police have no right to arrest you. This is a crucial point we want people to understand and assert,” she added.
According to the organisation, the campaign is designed to educate Lagos residents on provisions of the ACJL that protect their rights, discourage the practice of arresting individuals “in lieu” of suspects, and empower women to confidently stand as sureties.
Aigbogun-Brai further called on the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to ensure officers comply with the provisions of the law and uphold the rights of citizens.
REPLACE also pledged to sustain its awareness campaigns across the state to ensure that more residents, especially women and vulnerable groups, understand and assert their rights.
Speaking at the event, the Head (Iya Loja) of Mile 12 Market, Olaide Binitie, commended the initiative, describing it as timely.
“The advocacy is germane especially in a time women are faced with series of abuses from domestic to societal, hence, the explanation of the key provisions of the law would further expose women to their rights in the society,” she said.
She added, “with the awareness today, I am elated and expect positive changes among the women. If they have any issues regarding the infringement of their rights, they will know what to do especially with the enlightenment by the REPLACE group today.”