Niger State Chief Judge, Justice Halima Abdulmalik, has described as unacceptable, delays by the Legal Unit of the State Police Command and their constant refusal to forward case files of suspects to the Ministry of Justice for legal advice.
She made this known at the Minna Old Medium Security Custodial Centre, as part of an ongoing visit to custodial centres across the state.
The Chief Judge pointed out that the legal department of the State Police Command allows inmates to remain in custodial centres without trial in court, which she said is highly worrisome.
She described the police action as deliberate aimed at incarcerating these inmates, by giving the same excuse for case files while they keep on saying an investigation is ongoing without completion.
Justice Abdulmalik advised the police in the Legal Unit of the Niger State Police Command, to work in partnership with the office of the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, in the Ministry of Justice, to bring about a speedy administration of justice.
According to the Chief Judge, “the ineptitude of the legal department of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, (SCIID) is painful, and will no longer be accepted”.
She directed the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, in the state Ministry of Justice, Barrister Mohammed Kutigi, to expedite action on the duplicated case files.
