Niger State Chief Judge, Justice Halima Abdulmalik, has described as unacceptable, delays by the Legal Unit of the State Police Command and what he described as their constant refusal to forward case files of suspects to the Ministry of Justice for legal advice.
The Chief Judge said the legal department of the State Police Command is allowing inmates to remain in custodial centres without trial in court, which she said is highly worrisome.
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She expressed her feelings at the Minna Old Medium Security Custodial Centre, as part of an ongoing visit to custodial centres across the state.
The Chief Judge described s the police action as deliberate aimed at incarcerating these inmates, by giving the same excusefor case files while they keep on saying an investigation is ongoing without completion.
She 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.
Justice Abdulmalik said 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.
Editor: Oloyede Oworu
