Criminalizing petty offences, indication of inequality in justice delivery system – Mom

The President of Lawyers Alert Nigeria, Rommy Mom, has observed that criminalizing petty offences is an indication of inequality in justice delivery system in the country.
Mom said this at a strategic meeting organised by Lawyers Alert Nigeria in Abuja on the need to decriminalize petty offences in Nigeria.
Civil Society Organizations that attended the meeting formed an alliance to collaborate, synergize and work together in advocating for the decriminalization of petty offences in the country.
The participants, drawn from various CSOs, dissected the issue of petty offences considering the manner indigent citizens have been unnecessarily arrested, maltreated and imprisoned.
Mom said arresting, humiliating and prosecuting helpless citizens over petty offences should stop.
He commended the partners for forming an alliance to actualise the decriminalization of petty offences.
He said the setting up of the Alliance for Decriminalization of Petty Offences was to ensure that all stakeholders work together as a team to achieve the goal.
Mom said the vision of the coalition is to achieve decimalization of petty offences in Nigeria by employing research, advocacy, litigation and awareness creation as tools.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Abuja branch, Folarin Aluko, reviewed the concept of petty offences and noted that poor people have been the victims.
Aluko said when a segment of the society becomes the target of a particular law, it is an indication of inequality, which also amounts to discrimination, and should not be encouraged.
The NBA Chairman lamented that many citizens were languishing in prisons for committing petty offences and that this contributes to prisons congestion across the country.
Aluko said there is the need to decriminalize petty offences, just as he frowned at wrong, unwarranted and indiscriminate arrest of citizens, especially the indigent and vulnerable, by security men, particularly in Abuja.
Also speaking, the Deputy Director, Prison Rehabilitation and Welfare Action, Ogechi Ogu, expressed worry over prison congestion in the country, saying that many of the prisoners got there for committing petty offences.
Ogu also said most of the victims of petty offences are poor people who might have committed such offences while pursuing their means of livelihood.
She added that there is the need to raise awareness of punishable offences and enlighten citizens to know their rights.
Ogu also condemned the arbitrary arrests of indigent citizens in Abuja by security operatives and advised government agencies to be responsible and respect the dignity of Nigerian citizens when they are discharging their lawful duties.
A human rights lawyer and Litigation Officer of Coalition of Lawyers for Human Rights, Victor Eboh, commended Lawyers Alert Nigeria for championing the campaign for the decriminalization of petty offences in Nigeria.
The Director, Legal Matter at Lawyers Alert Nigeria, Bamidele Jacobs, said decriminalization of petty offences has become very imperative given the plight of the poor people who are victims.
Representatives of Legal Aid Council, FIDA Nigeria and Dorothy Njemanze Foundation among other stakeholders in the legal and justice system also pledged commitment to ensure decriminalization of petty offences in Nigeria.