The Chief Judge of Niger State,Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik,has taken a serious swipe on the Director of Public Prosecutor (DPP), in the Ministry of Justice,Nuraini Baba Usman Esq, and the Head of the Legal unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Mr Edwin Ochayi ASP for their refusal to profile a charge against the defendants.
Justice Halima Abdulmalik, in her ongoing state wide visit across Correctional facilities in Niger State, toughlashed the two officers for their refusal to collaborate among themselves to relieve the suffering of inmates languishing in the custodial centres in the
state.
The Director Public Prosecution (DPP) is saddled with the responsibility of giving legal opinions to the head of legal unit of the SCID for onward arranging suspects in court for proper prosecution.
At the Minna Medium Security Correctional Custody, Thursday,the 26th February,2026, the DPP and the head of the legal unit of the SCID engaged themselves in a hot argument of the disappearance of some case files concerning some defendants that have been languishing in jail without being taken to court for prosecution in the last three years.
While reviewing some of the cases during her visit to the Minna old Medium Security Custodial Centre,the Chief Judge of Niger State,Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik, discovered that some inmates were unjustly in detention as a result of unprofessional conduct of the DPP and the head of the legal unit of the SCID.
The Chief Judge findings revealed that some numbers of inmates were kept in the correctional Custody without any charges preferred against them “yet you kept them languishing in custody”
The Director Public Prosecution Nuraini Baba Usman Esq. told the Chief Judge that most of the case and the legal advice forwarded to the office of the head of the legal unit of the SCID has not been complied in accordance with the provision of the Administration Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) in Niger State 2023.
According to the DPP, most the of the case files from the legal unit of the SCID to his office does not comply with the provision of ACJA “in that situation, I will return it back for them to do the needful.
“ And there is nothing I can do in such a situation , my Lord. The police have not complied with my advice” he told the Chief Judge.
The head of the legal unit of the SCID. ASP Edwin Ochayi,while responding,argued that the cumbersome state of his office is responsible for the challenge he is facing.
On her own part, Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik,queried the both officers for exhibiting unprofessional conduct in the discharge of their duty as critical stakeholders in the administration of criminal justice.
She pointed out that with this ugly conduct as exhibited by both officers informed the exception of unqualified Police from prosecuting cases in courts.
“ We wouldn't take any antics any longer. Only Qualified Prosecutors must prosecute in accordance with the provision of the Constitution.
“ You are not ready to profile a charge because the Police have not complied with your advice,then it shouldn't be charged with culpable homicide punishable with death.
“ We are in transitional period you should know that.This is the reason that only Qualified Prosecutors must prosecute in court” the Chief Judge vowed.
