Over 400 Detainees Languish In Kano Correctional Centre – CP
By Abdullahi Yusuf
Over 400 detainees are languishing in Central Correctional Centre,Kurmawa,Kano, due to various reasons, the Commissioner of Police in Kano State,Mr Usaini Gumel,has said.
Gumel gave reasons for the detainees’ predicament to include missing/untraced court case records; absence of Case Diary; non issuance of legal advice and filing of charge at the High Court and prolonged years of criminal trials without granting bail to the Defendants.
He disclosed this on Monday at the Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association(NBA),Kano State branch, with the theme:”Turning Point.”
He also listed shortage of legal professionals and support staff to provide pro bono legal services to the large number of arrested and/or detained individuals and members of the Force,as part of the reasons.
“There is also lack of effective coordination among key stakeholders, especially correctional facilities and legal aid services, leading to gaps in service delivery and support,” he said.
The commissioner said the situation had raised concerns about the vulnerability of detainees without legal representation and the potential impact on their rights within the criminal justice system.
He also revealed that there was lack of basic facilities such as health care, routine hygiene, staff offices and schools at the Remand Home,Goron Dutse,Kano.
He said these were part of the findings of a Steering Committee launched by the State Police Command to facilitate the implementation of the innovative provisions contained in the Police Duty Solicitors Scheme Document.
The committee which comprised criminal Justice professionals, he said,embarked on series of visits to correctional facilities at Janguza and Kurmawa, as well as Zango, Hotoro, and Sharada Police Stations.
“The visits were also extended to complexes of Sharia Courts, Nomansland Magistrate Courts and the High Courts located along Miller Road in Kano State during which it held constructive discussions with stakeholders and obtained useful information on the way forward.
“These visits underscored our commitment to ensuring the effective implementation of the PDSS initiative and fostering collaboration with key stakeholders in the justice system,”Gumel said.
He said the police command in the state was committed to the promotion and protection of human rights through the launch of Police Duty Solicitor Scheme (PDSS).
“This pioneering endeavour, which is the initiative of the IGP-led Nigeria Police Force Management Team, is being championed by the State Police Command.
“It is with the overall objective of promoting free legal assistance to detainees, ensuring that their rights are upheld and protected throughout the criminal justice processes.
“It is by the collective support we are providing to the vulnerable members of our society that we are at individual and entity levels showcasing our unwavering commitment to justice delivery and the promotion of equity,” the commissioner added.
