Governor Yusuf warns prosecutors, investigators against human rights abuse
By Abdullahi Yusuf
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has warned prosecutors and investigators of criminal cases in the state against trampling on the fundamental human rights of suspects.
Yusuf sounded the warning through his Director-General, Special Duties, Air Vice Marshal Ibrahim Umar (rtd), while declaring open a one-day workshop for Kano State Police Prosecutors and Investigators, on Tuesday.
The workshop was organized by the state Police Command in collaboration with the state chapter of the Magistrates Association of Nigeria (MAN).
He also urged the officers to keep abreast with the state Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) 2019, to enable them to carry out their duties within the ambit of the Rule of Law.
“The Law has about 471 sections with Appendixes and Forms, and is enriched with innovative sections that allow investigators and prosecutors to carry out their duties without trampling on the fundamental human rights of Suspects,” he said.
According to the governor, “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.
“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 actualizing 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 was in line with the specific objectives of the Police Act, 2020.
Gumel said that the objective of the Act was to provide for a Police Force that was more responsive to the needs of the general public and bring about a positive change in the public perception of the Force.
