compact disc or such other audio visual means, the
confessional statements of a suspect and to take
statements of suspects in the presence of the persons set
out in Section 17(2) of ACJA.
The Court of Appeal further held that the provisions are for
the benefit of private citizens who are suspected of
committing crimes so that the enormous powers of the
police or other law enforcement agencies may not be
abused by intimidating them or bullying them in the
course of taking their statements.
That the provisions also have another side of it, viz: to
protect law enforcement agents from false accusation of
coercion in taking statements from suspects. The use of
the word “may” in those provisions are in those
circumstances mandatory and not permissive.
Also in the case of FABIAN MATHEW v STATE, unreported
decision
of
the
Court
of
Appeal
in
Appeal
No.
CA/L/1126/2011 delivered on 11/12/15 and JOSEPH ZHIYA
v THE PEOPLE OF LAGOS STATE (2016) LPELR – 40562 (CA)
the Court of Appeal held that failure to comply with
Section 9(3) of the ACJL which is
pari material with
Section 15(4) and 17(2) of ACJA 2015, which requires
video recording of the making of a confessional
49