The Commissioner of Police Niger State Police Command , CP Abdullahi Adamu Elleman, has expressed support for the decision to restrict court prosecutions to qualified lawyers, saying it will improve the administration of criminal justice in the state.
Speaking to journalists in his office at the State Police Command Headquarters,Dushen Kura Hausa in Minna.
Furthermore, the Police Boss, Adamu Elleman explained that the issue was discussed with relevant authorities as far back as last year due to concerns about workload and delays in prosecution.
He said the State has 25 local government areas, 45 divisional police offices, and seven area commands, all of which handle criminal cases on daily basis .
According to the CP, “each local government has at least three to four courts, and no court receives fewer than five cases everyday.
This, he noted, creates a heavy workload that could lead to delays in justice if there are not enough qualified prosecutors.
“We warned last year that without enough trained manpower, this decision could delay justice, and justice delayed is justice denied,” he said.
He noted that “At that time, our concerns were accepted and the implementation was shifted to January this year.”
The Police Commissioner clarified that the new directive only affects lay prosecutors and does not stop police lawyers who are called to the Nigerian Bar from prosecuting cases.
He further explained that prosecution is a constitutional responsibility of the police, after the Attorney General, and that trained police lawyers will continue to handle cases.
CP Adamu Elleman described the move as a step toward professionalizing prosecution in the country, stressing, that the Nigeria Police Force is now producing more qualified lawyers through the Police Academy, with the Legal Department upgraded to a full directorate at the Force Headquarters.
“We are now getting more police lawyers every year, and they are being posted to state commands and zonal headquarters, adding that his will help us cover the many courts and ongoing cases across the state”, he! declared.
He said the Inspector General of Police has approved the deployment of more tactical teams to the area.
“About 120 armed tactical personnel arrived in Agwara and were well received by the community,” he said.
“They have taken over security duties, and by the grace of God, such incidents will not happen there again”, he maintained
The Police Commissioner thereby called on the residents of Niger State to cooperate with the police by providing credible information, assuring them that the command remains committed to protecting lives and property.
He also said the withdrawal of the curfew across parts of the state was based on improved security, adding that continuous patrols across Minna and other major towns have reduced criminal activities to the barest minimum.
“My men are everywhere. We are on top of the situation, and we are equal to the task,” CP Elleman said”, while thanking the Niger State government for its consistent support in both operational and administrative matters.
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