The Commissioner of Police in Niger State, CP Abdullahi Adamu Elleman, has expressed support for the decision to restrict court prosecutions to qualified lawyers, saying it will improve the administration of criminal justice in the state.
Speaking to journalists in his office in Minna, CP Elleman explained that the issue was discussed with relevant authorities as far back as last year due to concerns about workload and delays in prosecution.
He said Niger State has 25 local government areas, 45 divisional police offices, and seven area commands, all of which handle criminal cases daily.
According to the Commissioner, each local government has at least three to four courts, and no court receives fewer than five cases every day. This, he noted, creates a heavy workload that could lead to delays in justice if there are not enough qualified prosecutors.
“We warned last year that without enough trained manpower, this decision could delay justice, and justice delayed is justice denied,” he said. “At that time, our concerns were accepted and the implementation was shifted to January this year.”
The Police Commissioner clarified that the new directive only affects lay prosecutors and does not stop police lawyers who are called to the Nigerian Bar from prosecuting cases. He explained that prosecution is a constitutional responsibility of the police, after the Attorney General, and that trained police lawyers will continue to handle cases.
CP Elleman described the move as a step toward professionalizing prosecution in the country. He revealed that the Nigeria Police Force is now producing more qualified lawyers through the Police Academy, with the Legal Department upgraded to a full directorate at the Force Headquarters.
“We are now getting more police lawyers every year, and they are being posted to state commands and zonal headquarters,” he said. “This will help us cover the many courts and ongoing cases across the state.”
He assured the public that ongoing cases will not be affected by the change, as new qualified prosecutors can take over without restarting trials, except where there is a change of judge.
On security, CP Elleman gave an update on the situation in Agwara Local Government Area, following recent concerns. He said the Inspector General of Police has approved the deployment of more tactical teams to the area.
“About 120 armed tactical personnel arrived in Agwara and were well received by the community,” he said. “They have taken over security duties, and by the grace of God, such incidents will not happen there again.”
The Commissioner called on residents of Niger State to cooperate with the police by providing credible information, assuring them that the command remains committed to protecting lives and property.
He also said the withdrawal of the curfew across parts of the state was based on improved security, adding that continuous patrols across Minna and other major towns have reduced criminal activities to the barest minimum.
“My men are everywhere. We are on top of the situation, and we are equal to the task,” CP Elleman said, while thanking the Niger State Government for its consistent support in both operational and administrative matters.
