Kogiflame
The existing cordial and productive relationship between the Judiciary and the police has received the commendation of the Chief Judge of Kogi State, Hon. Justice Josiah Majebi.
The commendation was made when he received the Assistant Inspector-General of Police for Zone 8, Abubakar Zubair, in his office at the judiciary headquarters in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, yesterday.
Justice Majebi who particularly praised the Police Protection Unit for its performance, however noted that lower courts in the state and their Judges were vulnerable and requested for deployment of policemen to cover the courts on daily basis.
“We have the Judges Police Protection Unit working well here in the state because they quickly respond to whatever complaints we present. But we still have not gotten enough police needed to man our courts, particularly the Magistrate courts, and we ask that we should, at least, have one as duty officer per court” demanded the CJ.
Examining the judiciary-police cordiality and experiences with police personnel, the CJ craved more bonding and more collaboration between the two institutions which he said should be taken beyond institutional to the personnel in the two organs of government as a means of making the society secured and livable through adequate administration of justice as stakeholders. To him, the situation where staffers of the two institutions were sometimes found dishonoring one another was not healthy for the pursuit of organizational mandates even as he emphasized that the judiciary maintains an uncompromising integrity that her staff have imbibed and sustained as a culture.
“We are very grateful and appreciate you for commending our relationship with the Nigeria police. As humans, there are always areas of imperfection but with understanding by every one of us, we can fix it. Though we have had some nasty experiences, but we will maintain that synergy with you for us to attain our collective desires for security and adequate administration of justice in the state.
“For instance, it is disheartening to recall that the police could embarrass one of our responsible registrars who was framed with a charge of attempted robbery simply because he tried to intervene in somebody’s case. Or when they don t attend to Judicial Officers promptly and they hold the idea of “whoever he is” or “is it because he is a judge?”. This is not healthy for our effectiveness. We need to find a way to educate them on how to relate with the judiciary just as we are doing here in the judiciary” he added.
The CJ also appreciated the strenuous job of the police in the state and prayed that they succeed in wiping out criminals as he consoled the AIG and over the loss of one of their personnel following an ambush in a part of the state.
“I commend you on the work you are doing and how much you are doing for the security of the state. We also appreciate and thank you for your support during our prison visits as your men spend a number of days with us. It shows it is good if we continue to be there for one another. All our Judges consider you as our brothers in progress because you are risk-bearers like us and because you risk your lives for the society.
“I learnt you lost one officer in the western side of the state when they were ambushed. Please extend my condolence to the Commissioner of Police and all your personnel. It is our prayer that you get every good thing the Lord has prepared for you and that you will be strengthened to even live a better life than when you are in the service and that no evil befalls you and your family” prayed the CJ.
Earlier, the DIG who appreciated the CJ and the judiciary for the partnership in the administration of justice in the state, expressed satisfaction with the report he was getting from prosecution of cases in courts though lamented the shortage of police personnel. He as well thanked other judges present stating that the combined efforts of the police and the Judges have ensured relative peace in the state.
“I just said I should find time to come and thank you for all the assistance you have been rendering to us and to share personal experiences in the profession with you. We don t have much lawyers and in most cases they either appear in court or they use corps members. But we are doing everything humanly possible to make sure they act professionally in courts every time.
“The first thing I observed, when I got here, was that we have a lot of man power challenges. Even the proposed 10,000 men to be recruited now may not go far as we need aggressive recruitment. But we will continue to do our best in the circumstance.
“Your humility has been well spoken about and that I have seen by myself today. May God continue to be with us and protect us because ours are challenging professions.So, I will convey your message and these challenges as I will discuss with the commissioner for them to do whatever is necessary.
“This will include a patrol vehicle with about 5 men to be regularly stationed here at the High Court because we are becoming more vulnerable. We are targets now especially you people that pass sentences.
In response to his comment, other Judges present at the parley also made some contributions which the AIG also said was useful and promised to act upon. Justice Abdul Awulu remarked on quality of prosecution which he implored the police to improve upon just as he also lent his voice that the protection of law and law enforcement officers were paramount to the Council of Judges in the state. He clarified that offences that attract death penalties would be applied as the law provides.
To this, Justice Etsu Umar related insecurity with the refusal of authorities concerned to sign death warrants linking it also with the increasing number of condemned criminals, prisons congestion and jailbreaks.
As the Judge of the Family Court at the High Court level, Justice Angelina Salihu expressed concern over tampering with evidence on rape, stigmatization of victims, prosecution of perpetrators, protection of witnesses and the integrity of evidence placed before the court.
As justice Awulu hinted that “indeed there is a shift in investigation now and it is paying out in court”, he suggested that “the new thing is that confession should be recorded and played in court” as “most prosecutors are lawyers, (and expectedly,) they are to guide prosecutors” He noted that “no judge will be happy to see the person convicted walking on the street” in relation to the refusal to sign the death warrants.
While promising to find a means of addressing the issues raised alongside the state command through the Commissioner of Police, the AIG disclosed that a smart police station was being built in the state where everything, including investigation, would be automated.
He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to have insight into the challenges facing the two organizations in terms of criminal Justice administration and was delighted that the judiciary and the police were working hand-in-hand to rid the state of criminals.
