Ever wondered why some Police officers often try to convince suspects to write a statement after which they come up with bogus amount to secure bail or threaten to go to court?

Well, the suspect may have just incriminated him/herself. There have been cases where a suspect wrote something contrary to what actually transpired perhaps under duress, and proving otherwise posed a huge challenge.

While it is not in doubt that many statements made at Police stations were done under coercion, it is not an easy task for a lawyer to prove this and convince the Court, not to rely on such statements, or attach any weight to it.

Having this in mind, it is pertinent that a suspect takes due care in writing a statement. It is equally advisable to insist on the right to have an Attorney or a Lawyer of choice, available before making any statement.

Section 35 (2) of the Nigerian Constitution as Amended provides for the right of an accused person(suspect) to a Lawyer and section 17 (3) of the Rivers State Administration of Criminal Justice Law provides for the statement to be taken in the presence of a lawyer.

Thus, not only does...........................................................................................................................

Continue reading How to write a police statement upon arrest
Join us on telegram for more updates