The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has officially opened a refurbished Evidence Storage Facility, funded by the US Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs at the Gombe State Criminal Investigation Department, Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Gombe State.
The facility is meant to strengthen the capacity of the Nigeria Police to collect evidence and more effectively prosecute terrorism and other serious crimes with the respect of Rule of Law.
The Project Coordinator, Mr. Thomas David Parker, who stood in for the Representative of the Country Representative of the UNODC, Mr. Oliver Stolpe, said the collection of evidence was the bedrock of effective criminal investigation.
“When we can, storing that evidence and sending it forth to a forensic laboratory and they can recover finger prints and blood types and things like that, but none of that is possible unless you have somewhere you can store the evidence that you collected in crime scenes and then come back and find it and present it in court,” said Mr. Parker.
He said it was part of the efforts of the UNODC to support the efforts of serious crimes in the North East and the Middle Belt.
Mr. Parker said Gombe State was the second state with a completed refurbished Evidence Collection Facilities, amongst other places, where they were working with different police forces to refurbish their evidence storage facilities.
He said even though the facility was being handed over to the Police in Gombe State, it did not mean the end of their support, but that they would be training investigators, evidence custodians, prosecutors, defence attorneys and judges in Gombe State to support them in their efforts to defeat the scourge of serious crime.
Mr. Parker, however, encourage the Gombe State Police Command to reach out to them for any assistance or support, saying it is right and proper, if they have needs, even though they cannot solve all problems, but they will always partner with the police to find solutions.
“And I am sure, when we solve one problem, we will discover some more problems. So, as we work through this, don’t be shy to come back to us. We know this is the first step in the journey, probably along quite a long road and we want to be walking along side you the whole way,” said Mr. Parker.
The Deputy Director, International Bureau of Narcotics and Law Enforcement, INL, United State Department of State, US Embassy, Mr. Walter Quintanilla, considers the official opening of the evidence facility as pivotal moment in the advancement of justice and law enforcement in Gombe State.
Mr. Quintanilla said the facility underscored the commitment of the US Government to excellence to law enforcement.
He said part of the missions of the International Bureau of Narcotics and Law Enforcement at the US Embassy in Nigeria, was the dedication to combating narcotics trafficking and enhancing global enforcement cooperation.
“The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement or INL, works tirelessly alongside domestic and international law enforcement agencies providing them with the tools, training and support needed to fight crime effectively,” said Mr. Quintanilla.
He said the INL had through its efforts strengthened legal frameworks, supported the development of professional law enforcement capacities and fostered a global culture of lawfulness.
According to him, the process of evidence collection storage stands as a cornerstone of the judicial system across the world, thereby embodying the essence of the rule of law, saying crucial management of evidence is crucial “It ensures that justice is served fairly accurately, protecting the rights of individuals, while holding offenders accountable.”
He said the refurbishment of the evidence facility was not just a logistical upgrade, but the reaffirmation of the dedication to preserving the integrity of evidence, saying the enhancement of capabilities ensures that every piece of evidence is preserved and is accessible in ensuring that it can effectively contribute to the pursuit of justice.
“In a world, where the details can determine the outcome of the case, the importance of the evidence facility cannot be overstated, nor the role of law enforcement in the pursuit of law and justice,” said Mr. Quintanilla.
He also said the facility served as a beacon of international cooperation between the US and Nigeria, as well as a commitment to national and global security and justice, thereby fostering partnerships and exchanging best practices, as well as enhancing the collective ability to combat crimes and entrench the rule of law worldwide.
The Commissioner of Police, Gombe State Command, CP Hayatu Usman, said considers the handing over of the refurbished evidence collection facility a very good gesture, pledging that the facility and all facilities to be deployed there would be put to good use and well taken care of.
According to CP Usman, preservation of evidence as they are recovered mattered a lot, when tendering them during court proceedings, saying when the exhibits are not well kept, it would most definitely affect the validity of the exhibit, because a lot of things had happened t the evidence before it was tendered.
“Lack of a good place to keep them affects their original form, how they are recovered from the scenes of crimes,” said CP Usman.
While thanking the UNODC and the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement for the kind gesture, the CP thanked the various Gombe State Government agencies that turned up for the official handing over ceremony of the Evidence Collection facility, urged the officers that would be charge of the facility to ensure proper maintenance and storage of evidence.
The Gombe State Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Bello (Rtd) thanked the UNDC and the US Government’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement for the facility, saying the facility would be put to good use.
Meanwhile the Attorney general and Commissioner of Justice, Mr, Zubairu Umar, who was represented by Mr. Abubakar Jungudo, considers the refurbished evidence collection and storage facility as a significant milestone in the pursuit of justice and the preservation of truth.
He said the justice system relied heavily on the availability of and integrity of evidence, saying it will serve as a solid foundation for fair trial and unbiased investigation and the preservation of truth in the government’s continuous evolution to adopt the ever changing legal system.
“This facility will remain a symbol of unwavering commitment, justice, truth and the wellbeing of the people.”
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