Kogiflame
The first step to delivering justice in a society is the ability to prevent the commission of any form of crime that would be harmful to the people.
The Chief Judge of Kogi State, Hon. Justice Josiah Majebi, made this assertion at the commencement of the training of selected staff of the state’s High Court of Justice on intelligence and surveillance by the state’s police command.
The selected staff constitutes a newly established unit in the High Court named the Intelligence and Surveillance Unit.
The Chief Judge said considering the importance of securing the courts, staffers and litigants, it was necessary to take the notch higher with the establishment of the unit which he said would better perform its duties when it synergizes with the Nigeria Police.
This fusion would be sustained after the training program through the participants when performing their duties in their respective courts he added.
The CJ who was represented by the Chief Registrar of the High Court, Oladimeji Ibrahim, Esq., at the raining, the Mopol 37 Squadron premises in Lokoja, the state capital, averred that the new security outfit in the High Court became necessary with the pressing need for an institutional collaboration towards tackling issues of security in the courts and their environs.
The selected workers of the court, whom he said were picked based on pedigree, were being trained by the police in a civil and knowledge-based manner in order to fully prepare them for the task ahead of them.
He added that the state and the society would be better served if crimes could be effectively prevented by lending support to the state and security agencies.
“It has particularly become important to protect our manpower, our infrastructure and properties in order to maximize the effect of the resources available to the courts.
“Addressing insecurity shouldn’t be left for government alone but with the little we can do, we have taken cognisance of the sensitive nature of administering justice and have chosen to find ways of doing that with the safety of staff and litigants uppermost in our minds” he disclosed as he appreciated the CP for approving the two weeks training program.
In the same vein, the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, CP Miller Dantawaye, noted in his address that though the Nigerian Police had the capacity and preparedness for best practices in policing, it was important that individuals and organisations give security of lives and property appropriate attention stressing that the society was evolving with equal sophistication in crime.
“This is the very first time we are having this from the Judiciary. At the inception, the idea is when do they see likely troublesome people or people lurking around the courts aimlessly; how do they tell and what level of intelligence do they have to gather to help further secure the courts? These were what the CJ said and we thought it is worth giving our effort.”
While assuring participants of acquiring the necessary skills that would help them in discharging their responsibilities at the end of the training, he urged them to be good ambassadors of the judiciary by applying the knowledge gained productively.
“The training will come handy and it will help you there in your work place. So, I expect you to do everything possible to harness information in your court and even the community. Work around once in a while to get the pulse of the people because It is possible you meet people who could be helpful in providing you the necessary information that may save the day for you.
“The essence is to secure the courts and the residences around you. You need to secure the community by mixing with the people that will help you. It is okay that your intelligence gathering is well spread because sometimes crime may live very far but still comes to you. It might even be somebody living far from you.
“If you think somebody is committing a crime at a point in time, make the arrest if you can, because even a private citizen has the power to arrest, or quickly contact us and we’ll be there. Your judgement at that point in time matters. But please, don’t take risk at the detriment of your own safety.”
As the mandate of the new unit at the High Court includes
stemming any possible breach of security, the CP commended the synergy between the judiciary and the Nigeria Police saying working hand-in-hand with the participants after completing the training would further boost the relationship between the two institutions and also help in the security of the state and the country.
“I expect that whatever you have learnt here would help us to police Kogi State and even the nation at large. We’re willing to continue to develop your security team and we’re open to whatever will help the security of the state and the country.
“Crime passes everywhere like the farm, the motor park, the hospital, the school etc. You must protect the intelligence and be good ambassadors of your organisation.
“You can’t be in isolation and get intelligence. Spread your tentacles and continue to see us as your partner. It means there’s already synergy when you work with us.
“It will further cement policing in the state because Kogi State is a very large state. Each time crime is reduced in any area, and each time we have people to help, the better for the society because it helps in tackling crime.”
In view of this, the training entails drilling on specific skills in crime detection, intelligence gathering, safety measures and immediate response to any occurrence of security breach.
Officers of the Police Combat Training Unit, the Special Bureau of Intelligence (SBI) and the Special Intelligent Unit (SIU) are conducting the training structured to also include medical fitness, basic intelligence gathering, surveillance, personnel management, detection of explosives as well as drillings for both mental and physical alertness.
Head of the Unit, Majebi Samuel, and other participants have expressed satisfaction with the program and appreciate the Chief Judge for finding them suitable for the training. Two of them, Muhammed Shaban and Esther Samuel, observed that the judiciary had been in need of such a unit for long going by the knowledge derived from the training already.
*When we were drafted in based on our background, I first observed that it is a novel idea as it was unprecedented in the judiciary”, said the unit head. “However, we’re beginning to see the vision of the Honorable CJ as this training is not only going to be helpful to the courts but the entire state. So, we’re grateful to the CJ and the CP for giving us the opportunity of the program.
According to Mr. Shaban, “the exercise has been so far impactful from the morning workouts to the lectures. We appreciate the CJ specially for this initiative.”
To Miss Samuel, “the training has impacted very well especially in the areas that we should be suspicious of strange objects and strange movements.”
The trading program that has participants syndicated in two groups ends on Friday, 15th August, 2025 with participants issued certificate of participation.
