Kano CP warns DPO’s against detaining suspects
By Abdullahi Jalalalluden
The Kano State Commissioner of Police, Usaini Gumel, has warned Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) against detaining suspects more than 48 hours without bail or charging them to court.
The CP disclosed this during an inspection visit to some divisional police offices within Kano Metropolitan.
He said detaining suspects beyond 24 hours before taking them to court for prosecution amounts to violation of the suspect’s rights, who is still presumed innocent until found guilty by a competent court.
He reminded Divisional Police Officers that bailing of suspects is free.
CP Gumel urged them to always ensure the fundamental human rights of suspects at all times, and avoid actions capable of jeopardizing their welfare and well-being.
He said the unscheduled visit to police formations was in line with the Police Duty Solicitors Scheme (PDSS) launched last December.
According to the Kano Police boss, “all sectors of the society would want to see what the police are doing in terms of access to justice.
There was a marching order by the IGP to all Commissioners of Police to launch the PDSS to ensure fundamental human rights, access to justice and free legal services.
“We are determined to make the practical aspect of the PDSS. We have moved round a number of police stations within the metropolis and interacted with detainees.
” We went to Zango police division, Fagga police division, Sharada police division, and the Correctional Centre at Janguza. We toured the facilities there, including the Court inside the Correctional Centre handling special cases.
“Our intention is to keep visiting all the police stations. The visit is unscheduled . We did not inform them that we were coming, because we want to see things for ourselves.
CP Gumel was accompanied by representatives from the Correctional Centre, National Human Rights Commissiin, the judiciary, office of the state Attoney General, and the Civil Society Organization.
” During the visits, I drummed it into the ears of the DPOs that bail is free as long as the suspect fulfil all the bail conditions.
