The Police in Kano state North West Nigeria, has expressed determination to ensure that detainees in various cells have their rights not only protected but also respected.
The Commissioner of Police CP, Mohammed Gumel made this known after leading members of Police Duty Solicitors Scheme Committee (PDSS) to inspect condition of detainees in various police cells in Kano metropolis.
Speaking to journalists, CP Gumel noted that the scheme is the initiative of the Inspector General Police designed to ensure fundamental Human Rights, access to justice and free legal services facilitation for Nigerians.
He reminded the Police officers that bail is free and a fundamental rights of citizens to be granted whenever the conditions are fulfilled.
He said; “Committee which compromised members of the correctional services, Human Rights Commission, Legal Aid council and State Attorney General office, among others have visited four Police Divisions and Ultramodern Maximum Security Custodial Center Janguza expressing delight with the way Detainies are being treated.
“This Committee was Inaugurated and we find it necessary to follow it with action where we visited some police Divisions within the metropolis, we see the detainees, we interviewed the Charge Room Officers CRO’s and the DPO’s.”
CP Gumel said that, “during our interactions with the Charge Room Officers CRO’s and Divisional Crime Officers we emphasise that, the right of detainees must be respected, they should not stay more than 24 hours in respect of cases that supposed to be charge to court.
“Those locations we visited non of them are on the know as to whether we are coming because we want to see things the way they are.”
CP Gumel expressed satisfaction with the location of a court inside the Maximum Security Custodial Center in Janguza where special cases can be tried upon.
The Kano State Police Command had on February inaugurated the Police Duty Solicitors Scheme (PDSS) to safeguard human rights across the state.
The Police Commissioner, CP Mohammed Gumel who hailed the Nigerian Police Force initiative said, the scheme would ensure no person facing legal proceedings left without access to legal counsel or representation.
The 11-member PDSS Advisory Committee is to implement the initiative in the state.
According to him,“the duty solicitors scheme been launched with its advisory committee will no doubt play a crucial role in safeguarding the rights of individuals who may find themselves in challenging legal situations.”
CP Gumel said, the Committee would play pivotal role in shaping and refining the implementation of the scheme and ensuring that no person is left without access to legal counsel when facing legal proceedings.
Police Divisions visited are Fagge, Zango, Totoro, Sharada and 3000 capacity Ultramodern Maximum Security Custodial Centre Janguza in the State.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
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