oodwill Message Delivered By The Commissioner Of Police, Kano State Police Command, Cp Mohammed Usaini Gumel, Fipma, Psc At The Capacity Training Workshop On The Implementation Of Kano State Administration Of Criminal Justice Law (Acjl), 2019 Organized By Law Hub Development And Advocacy Centre, Held At Babale Suites, Dabo Muhammed. Close, Off New Race Course, Nassarawa-gra, Kano On The 10th August, 2023
Protocol:
I am greatly honored and humbled for been invited and given the role of delivering a goodwill message at this august gathering. It would be an overwhelming experience for me to partake in this kind of capacity building programme that is aimed at bringing together the necessary stakeholders in the administration of criminal justice system with a view to refreshing the requisite knowledge and improving proficiency in the application and implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law in the State. Therefore, the importance of this programme cannot be over emphasized.
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- 2. When I received this invitation, I became very excited, because it’s the li moment when the Kano State Police Command in collaboration with Kano State Branch of Magistrates Association of Nigeria (MAN), had concluded all necessary arrangements for coming up with a regular and sustainable training programme on Kano State ACJL, 2019 with a view to providing technical assistance and capacity-building for our police prosecutors, Divisional Crime Officers (DCO’s) and Investigation Police Officers (IPOs) for enhancing adequate sensitization and compliance with the relevant provisions of the Law. The the programme would commence from this month (15th August, 2023), and subsequent ones shall be conducted on quarterly basis. Even though, we are confronted with financial constraints, but we are still trying to invite Development Partners and other Support Organizations to join us in making our effort become a reality. On this note, I would like to say that Kano State Police Command is now fully reawakened and prepared to rise to the occasion in order to ensure that the police discharge their functions in accordance with the provisions of the new Law, and based on the principles of accountability, transparency, promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
3. I would therefore, use this opportunity to extend police command’s invitation to all key players and Development partners especially those who are present here to promote this cause by providing the police with the needed technical and financial supports, as we are all out to see that we go with the current trend and compliance with the realities. Further to this, I understand that one of the objectives of this programme is to popularize and disseminate the Administration of Criminal Justice Law and continue to update the Law and reflect amendments, but I want to make it very clear that if there is any sector amongst the justice institutions that needs to know more about this Law, and need to be supported in terms of the application and implementation of the Law is the Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs).
4. Going forward, the Government and Development Partners must therefore ensure that adequate copies of the Law, Practice Directions and the Rules are provided to all security personnel for easy reference and compliance. So also, the government, the key stakeholders and development partners should not just presume that the police and other security agencies are fully aware of their mandates under this Law, as we are aware that so many of our judges, magistrates, Alkalis and lawyers are still battling to comprehend many of the provisions of this Law. We are also aware that, many of us at the gate of Criminal Justice Administration (Police) are considering this Law as ‘’Accused friendly’’ as it portend protection of the interest of the accused persons more than the interest of the victims, the State and the society. As a result, all attempts towards introducing some of these new innovative provisions of the Law, are considered as ‘‘security obstacles’’ whereby many notorious and hardened criminals in the State got released by the Courts in the name of complying with the Law.
5. Please let me not be misquoted by any one as I am not here to criticize any part of this Law, but I am trying to show that henceforth to have a well-articulated and all-encompassing amendment, there’s the need for the buy-in of all the relevant stakeholders and for everyone to be carried along throughout the process or when addressing some of the matters arising. Therefore, everyone must be given adequate time and facility to study and understand the provisions of this Law, and ensuring that the key players get adequate sensitization.
6. Finally, I must congratulate LAW-HUB Development and Advocacy Centre for this giant stride. I also congratulate all the key players in the Justice Sector and all the Development Partners as well. Furthermore, I wish to reiterate that Kano State Police Command is ever ready to participate in this kind of programme, and we would try our best to see that we discharge our responsibilities in accordance with the Law and in line with the principles of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
7. On behalf of the Nigeria Police Force, I am pleased to wish you a fruitful deliberation and pray for successful interaction.
Thank you! Thank you!!
