High Court of Justice Kaduna State

Thank you Lord

Allah ya sadamu da Rahaman sa dan albarkan wanan wata na Ramadan

*New Police Act, 2020*

*Know Your Rights: The Police Act has Been Made Better*

President Buhari on September 16, 2020, signed the new Police Act 2020 into law and this replaced the old Police Act, CAP P.19, LFN, 2004.

Below are the new amendments that every Nigerian should be aware of:

1) Section 66(1) of the Police Act 2020, ONLY a Police Officer who is a LEGAL PRACTITIONER, can prosecute. Police Officer who is NOT a LEGAL PRACTITIONER cannot prosecute unlike the the Old Act that gave non-Police lawyers prosecutorial power.

2) Just like in the movies, Nigeria can now have private detectives who are not employed by the government. The Nigeria Police Force is responsible for vetting and approving the registration of Private Detective Schools and Private Investigative Outfits. See Sec. 4(i).

3) The Police is mandated to report the findings of its investigation to the Attorney General of the Federation or State as the case may be. See Sec. 32(1).

4) The Act prohibits the Police from arresting anyone based on a civil wrong or breach of contract. See Sec. 32(2).

5) The Act equally prohibits the arrest of any person in place of a suspect. See Sec. 36.

6) The Act makes it mandatory on the police officer or any other person authorized to effect an arrest to inform the suspect his rights to:

i. Remain silent or avoid answering any question until after consultation with a legal practitioner or any other person of his own choice. See Sec. 35(2)(a).

ii. Consult a legal practitioner of his own choice before making, endorsing or writing any statement or answering any question put to him after the arrest. See Sec. 35(2)(b)

iii. Free legal representation by the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria or other organizations where applicable. See Sec. 35(2)(c).

7) The Act also makes it mandatory on the Police to notify the next of kin or relative(s) of the suspect immediately after the arrest of the suspect. See Sec. 35(3).

8.) A suspect shall be accorded humane treatment. And a suspect shall not be subjected to torture, cruelty, inhumane or degrading treatment. See Sec. 37.

9) The statement of a suspect can be taken only when he wishes to make a statement. See sec. 60(1).

10) The statement, where the suspect wishes to make one, MAY be taken in the presence of a legal practitioner or any other person or organization of his own choice. See sec. 60(2).

11) Where a suspect is arrested and detained for more than 24 hours, if the offence he was arrested for is not a capital offence, his lawyer or relatives can notify any court that has jurisdiction to try the matter about his arrest. See sec. 64(1).

12) The notification can be made in writing or orally. See sec. 64(3).

The court SHALL order the production of the suspect and inquire into the matter. Where it is convinced that the suspect should be released on bail, the court shall admit him to bail.

13) The Police are mandated to take the photographs and fingerprint impressions of all suspects who are in lawful custody. See sec. 68(1).

14) Where a suspect refuses to allow the Police to take his measurements, photograph and fingerprint impressions, the Police have the right to apply to court to compel the suspect to submit himself. See sec. 68(2).

15) On the last working day of every month, an officer in charge of a police station must report to the nearest magistrates the cases of all arrests made without warrant in his jurisdiction, whether the suspect have been admitted to bail or not. See sec. 69(1).

KNOW YOUR RIGHT

GENERAL PUBLIC NOTICE OF PROPOSAL FOR APPOINTMENT OF AN ADDITIONAL HIGH COURT JUDGE FOR KADUNA STATE IN THE 2020 APPROPRIATION.

In line with RULE THREE 1(a)(i) of the 2014 Revised NJC Guidelines & Procedural Rule for the Appointment of Judicial Officers of All Superior Courts of Record in Nigeria, the Kaduna State Judicial Service Commission under Tue Chairmanship of His Lordship Honourable Justice Muhammad Lawal Bello, FICMC hereby give the general public a NOTICE FOR CALL OF EXPRESSION OF INTEREST by suitable candidates within two weeks (14 clear days) from the date of this Notice.

Letters of expression of interest must be submitted along with a copy of Curriculum Vitae of the Candidate to:-

The Secretary
Judicial Service Commission
High Court of Justice Complex
Private Mail Bag 2064
Bida Road
Kaduna.

General Public Notice of Proposal for Appointment of An Additional Kadi of Sharia Court of Appeal, Kaduna State In The 2020 Appropriation.

General Public Notice of Proposal for Appointment of An Additional High Court Judge for Kaduna State In The 2020 Appropriation.

JUSUN Warns El-rufai To Hand -off Judiciary In Kaduna - https://peoplereporters.com/jusun-warns-el-rufai-to-hand-off-judiciary-in-kaduna/ || www.peoplereporters.com

JUSUN Warns El-rufai To Hands -off Judiciary In Kaduna — PeopleReporters.com The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) on Sunday warned the Kaduna state Governor , Malam Nasir El-rufai to hand off Judiciary, adding that an arm of goverment cannot be an appendage to the other. National President of JUSUN Comrade Marwan Mustapha in a statement describe as unacceptable the d...

These governors are the real monsters, they always try to manipulate things. If we could remember President Buhari granted autonomy and direct disbursement of LG funds, the governors rejected it. Now the same able president signed an order to grant our financial autonomy, to strengthen governance at the state level, the governors are trying to stop him. These are the people we voted for at state level. We want restructuring - that is the only song they know, but when they see one, they can’t even recognize it. They want to pocket the house of assemblies and the Judiciary. Yet no protest from our own part, the civil societies are silent about the issue.
Why can't we hold our governors accountable. Is Buhari the only man responsible for our welfare/good governance? We can't even talk to our LG chairman, some of us don't even know that millions are paid monthly into their accounts to take care of our LG. Road rehabilitation, drainage, environment, markets, education etc. The only thing our people know is that every morning they wake up with saliva in their mouth, they shout Buhari. These governors are our enemies, they don't want any restructuring apart from that of free sharing of money. Selfish bunch of idiots...

judgments of the apex court in recent times is alarming. This, some stakeholders attributed to what they described as “executive assault” on the judiciary in 2019, although the buildup started since October 2016, when judicial officers’ homes were raided by state security agents.

The sector and its stakeholders, including concerned citizens were jolted when the president through an exparte order of a quasi-judicial body (Code of Conduct Tribunal) dated January 23, 2019, removed the former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen. That was the first time such would happen in Nigeria since 1975 when the country was under the military rule. The constitutionality of that action is still a subject of debate among lawyers and many believe the judiciary is yet to recover from such “executive assault” on the sector since the commencement of democratic government in 1999.

Notwithstanding all the odds, there is cheery news. The penultimate week, president Buhari granted financial autonomy to the judiciary by signing an executive order No.10 to enforce the 4th alteration of the constitution. This is for the implementation of financial autonomy of the state legislature and state judiciary. A presidential implementation committee was constituted to fashion out strategies and modalities for the implementation of financial autonomy for the state legislature and judiciary in compliance with section 121(3) of the 1999 constitution, taking into consideration all other applicable laws, instruments, conventions and regulations, which provides for financial autonomy at the state tier of government.

The order provides that “the Accountant-General of the Federation shall by this order and such any other orders, regulations or guidelines as may be issued by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, authorise the deduction from a source in the course of Federation Accounts Allocation from the money allocated to any State of the Federation that fails to release allocation meant for the State Legislature and State Judiciary in line with the financial autonomy guaranteed by Section 121(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended)”. Based on the Executive Order, at the commencement of the Order, all States of the Federation shall include the allocations of the two arms of government in their Appropriation Laws. Article 6 (1) provides that “notwithstanding the provisions of this Executive Order, in the first three years of its implementation, there shall be special extraordinary capital allocations for the Judiciary to undertake capital development of State Judiciary Complexes, High Court Complexes, Sharia Court of Appeal, Customary Court of Appeal and Court Complexes of other Courts befitting the status of a Courts.”

Human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), who commended the president for the action said it was not enough to grant financial autonomy to the judiciary, but also to ensure compliance with the rule of law through full and complete obedience to all orders and decisions of the courts. His words: “I urge the president to grant total autonomy to the judiciary by signing another executive order to all parastatals, agencies and departments of government to implement section 287 of the 1999 constitution by complying with all orders, judgments and decisions of the courts.”

Examining the sector within the last one year, Professor of law, Edoba Omoregie said the judiciary performed to the best of its abilities in the last one year, adding that whether it meets with the expectations of Nigerians is another matter. “In my view, there is so much more to desire about our judicial system. To that extent, the performance of the judiciary cannot be any better than the nature of the judicial system we currently operate. “For a number of reasons, I believe the judiciary can perform far better to meet the people’s yearnings for justice and its quick dispensation: First, the judiciary is working under a system of centralisation. The Nat

Today, based on the power vested in me under Section 5 of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended), I signed into law Executive Order No. 10 of 2020 for the implementation of Financial Autonomy of State Legislature and State Judiciary.

This administration will continue to do everything to strengthen the principles and practice of democracy and democratic governance in Nigeria.

*Lockdown violation: Kaduna Mobile Courts realise N1.9m from fines — Attorney General*

Lockdown violation: Kaduna Mobile Courts realise N1.9m from fines - Attorney General - TheNigerialawyer Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General of Kaduna State, Aisha Dikko on Monday, said that a sum of N1,909,600 was realised as fines from violators of COVID-19 lockdown order, adding that 41 offenders were given community service. Dikko, in a statement, also said that 605 culprits were convicted...