The Gombe State Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association has organised a one-day capacity-building for investigators and prosecutors of the state command of the Nigeria Police Force.
The training that brought together investigators and prosecutors from the state headquarters and other divisional offices across the state was to enhance the quality of criminal investigations and judicial outcomes in Gombe.
The training sought to improve the technical competencies of officers involved in the criminal investigations and prosecution processes.
Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Chairman of the NBA, Barrister Benjamin Sati, emphasised the importance of aligning investigative procedures with legal best practices. He noted that the training seeks to illuminate common errors in investigations and reinforce ethical standards critical to delivering justice.
According to him, the initiative is part of the association’s broader commitment to fostering a robust, fair, and efficient criminal justice system in the state.
He said, “we recognise that flawed investigations do not only compromise cases but also erode public trust in the judiciary. This workshop is designed to bridge knowledge gaps and promote a culture of professionalism.”
Sati continued, “We have identified several issues, first by prosecutors; when cases go to court for trial, there are mostly some inadequacies or omissions that happen during investigation and these usually lead to the acquittance of somebody who would have been convicted.”
While disclosing that his team equally has plans to organise such training for other paramilitary organisations that are also involved in investigations and prosecution in the state, he stressed,”As critical stakeholders, we felt we should organise the training to bring the investigators to talk about one or two things that would be helpful to the people who do investigations.”
On his part, the Commissioner of Police, CP Bello Yahaya, stated that the training is crucial in strengthening the criminal justice value chain in the state.
“As we are all aware, the quality of investigation and prosecution forms the bedrock of successful convictions and the effective administration of justice. This training seeks to offer a platform for cross-learning between the police and the legal community a necessary synergy for a more efficient criminal justice system,” Yahaya said.
He commended the leaders of the NBA for the foresight and collaborative spirit, saying: “I also thank the facilitators and resource persons who have made time to be here. To our officers participating in this training, I urge you to approach every session with an open mind. Your attendance is not merely to fulfil a duty; it is to elevate your professionalism, renew your purpose, and reinforce your commitment to justice.”
Also, Barrister Musa Saidu, the Director of Civil Litigation Gombe State Ministry of Justice, described the training as timely, “I want to give kudos to the NBA and the Commissioner of Police. As you can see, the participants are from various divisions within the state. We discovered lapses on the part of prosecution. We want fair hearing. The accusation is that the police harass suspects into making statements.
“Statements must be recorded and done in front of the counsel. We are just reminding of the provision of the law,” he added.
