Group sues police for N2 billion.

Access to Justice a rights advocacy group has sued the Nigeria Police Force for N2 billion over the deplorable condition of police cells and alleged stripping of male suspects by police interrogators.

The Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim and the Commissioners of Police in the 36 states are joined in the suits which were filed at the Federal High Courts in Lagos and Abuja, respectively.

Its Director of Programmes, Leonard Dibia said this during a news briefing on Public Interest Litigations held by the group in Lagos

Dibia said the first class action delineated as FHC/L/CS/1513/2010 and FHC/ABJ/865/2010 was aimed at attacking systemic practices in the law enforcement process that violate human rights.

He said We are asking the court for an Order granting the sum of N1 billion for damages for the children, spouses and relatives of all persons who have died in police detention in Lagos State within the last 10 years- whether arising from corporal violence during interrogation, or from the intolerable cell conditions.”

According to him, the group is also asking for an Order granting N1 billion as damages to victims who have suffered the violation of their rights as a result of the practice of stripping male detainees.

Dibia noted that new offices, structures and libraries have been constructed in the SARS, Ikeja and State CID, Panti in Lagos within the last three years.

He said they were seeking a declaration compelling the IG to renovate these cells within the next six months, or outright closure of such facilities for lack of compliance.

Other declarations being sought include “a declaration that the practice of requiring male detainees to remove their clothes before incarceration is unconstitutional and an injunction prohibiting the practice”.

Earlier in an address of welcome, the Executive Director of , Joseph Otteh expressed dismay over the deplorable condition of human rights in Nigeria.

Otteh said the group’s programme in 2011 would include instituting a PIL against the parading of suspects by police even before investigation, trial and conviction, and denial of accused persons’ right to counsel during investigation.