Kano Gov Warns Prosecutors, Investigators against Human Rights Abuse

Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano

Kano state Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, yesterday warned prosecutors and investigators in the state of criminal cases against trampling on the fundamental human rights of suspects.

Yusuf spoke through the Director-General, Special Duties, Air Vice Marshal Ibrahim Umar (rtd), while declaring open a one-day workshop for Kano State Police prosecutors and investigators, which was organised by the state Police Command in collaboration with the state chapter of the Magistrates Association of Nigeria (MAN).

He tasked the officers to keep abreast with the state Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) 2019 to enable them carry out their duties within the ambits of the rule of law.

The governor said: “The law has about 471 sections with appendixes and forms, and it’s enriched with innovative sections that allow investigators and prosecutors to carry out their duties without trampling on the fundamental human rights of suspects.”

According to him, “Good knowledge of the ACJ (2019) law by prosecutors and investigators will go a long way in aiding easy and quick administration of justice within the judiciary.”

In his remarks, the state Chairman of MAN, Chief Magistrate Aminu Usman Fagge, said the idea behind the workshop was to provide technical assistance and capacity building for police officers, and to ensure compliance with relevant provisions of the law.

He said: “We want to bridge the widening gap between the law enforcement agencies and other criminal justice institutions in relation to this law, as it has been observed that the law enforcement agencies have not been given adequate attention and technical support in the process of actualising and implementing this law.”

In his address, the state Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Hussaini Gumel, described the workshop as a kind of capacity strengthening programme, which is in line with the specific objectives of the Police Act, 2020.

Gumel said the objective of the Act is to provide for the Police Force to be more responsive to the needs of the public and bring about a positive change in the public perception of the police.