The police command and the Kano justice ministry have deepened their synergy to enhance criminal justice delivery, focusing on faster investigation and prosecution, and improved adherence to human rights.

In a statement on Thursday, the police noted that the partnership was reached after some officials from the ministry, led by the director of public prosecutions, Abdullahi Ibrahim-Muhammad, visited the command.

The command said the delegation was received by the deputy commissioner of police (Operations Department), Lawal Isah-Mani, on behalf of CP Ibrahim Adamu-Bakori.

Also, during the discussion were the supervising officers of the command’s Criminal Investigation Department, led by the deputy commissioner of police, Shehu Idris, alongside the assistant commissioner of police, Wada Jarma, and all sectional heads in the department.

The police chief said, “The cooperation and dialogue we have today will undoubtedly translate into improved case management, timely prosecution, and better protection of the rights of both victims and suspects.

“All observations and recommendations raised during this interactive session have been noted and will be addressed promptly. I charge all supervising officers and sectional heads of the CID to exercise firm control and close supervision over their personnel to ensure professionalism, accountability, and adherence to due process in all investigations.”

The interaction provided a platform for frank and constructive discussions on prosecutorial procedures, case file preparation and evidence handling. 

Other areas of discussion, he said, included the challenges of prosecuting complex and emerging crimes such as cybercrime, drug trafficking and violent offences.

Mr Haruna-Kiyawa revealed that both parties reaffirmed their commitment to capacity building, regular inter-agency meetings, and strict compliance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, Kano State, 2019.

Mr Ibrahim-Muhammad explained that the visit was aimed at fostering a stronger working relationship among the police, the justice ministry, and other critical stakeholders within the criminal justice system.

He explained that they were under orders to interact directly with officers handling high-profile criminal cases to identify areas of collaboration and bridge any existing gaps that might hinder effective justice delivery.

“The engagement also provides an avenue to discuss training and retraining needs, address emerging criminal trends, and share perspectives on our respective successes, challenges, and areas for improvement.

“A unified approach is essential if we are to uphold the rule of law and ensure that justice is not only done but seen to be done,” the DPP said.

(NAN)