With the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and the Police Act 2020 emphasizing the need for legal expertise in prosecution, the Chief Judge of Niger State, Hon. Justice Halima I. Abdulmalik has given a directive for full compliance with the statutes in the state.
Her Lordship in a circular signed by the Chief Registrar of the High Court of Justice, Niger State, Amina Laminde Musa-Saidu, instructed that all Magistrate Courts and Sharia Courts in Niger State must fully comply with the provisions of section 166(1) of the Police Act 2020 and Section 179(d) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law Niger State. 2023, by declining to entertain cases brought before their Courts by non-lawyer police prosecutors.
Part of the circular dated 14th March 2025, reads: “These provisions state that non-lawyer police officers are prohibited from prosecuting cases in the aforementioned courts.
This directive is to take effect from 7th April 2025. All relevant personnel are to ensure that only qualified legal practitioners handle prosecution in these courts. Kindly ensure full compliance with this directive to uphold the integrity of the legal proceedings in the State.”
