In a strategic move to address procedural challenges and improve criminal justice outcomes, the Plateau State Government has provided the Nigerian Police Force, Plateau State Command, with 28 Tecno Spark 40 Android phones.
This initiative aims to curb the loss of prosecutable cases that have been dismissed due to a lack of compliance with legal requirements for recording confessional statements.
The presentation, led by the State’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Philemon Daffi, on behalf of Governor Caleb Mutfwang, underscores the administration’s commitment to strengthening the rule of law.
During the ceremony in Jos, Daffi highlighted the critical need for law enforcement agencies to adhere to Section 38(2) of the Nigerian Administration of Criminal Justice Law.
This law mandates that confessional statements must be video-recorded or, if not possible, written in the presence of a legal practitioner.
According to the Attorney-General, numerous strong cases have failed in court because these legal procedures were not followed, leading to the dismissal of charges.
“We’ve seen very good cases crumble simply because the confessional statements were not properly recorded,” Daffi stated.
He noted that the Supreme Court has explicitly prohibited the use of personal mobile phones for this purpose, citing the landmark case of FRN v. Akazie, which ruled that only sanctioned devices can be used for video recording confessional statements as per Section 15(4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.
The new devices are intended for the exclusive use of recording such statements, ensuring legal compliance and transparency.
Daffi emphasised that this action is not discretionary but mandatory for ensuring fairness and protecting suspects’ rights.
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The government believes this intervention will not only lead to more credible convictions but also help to decongest prisons and accelerate legal proceedings.
The initiative is also a response to growing public concern over trial delays and allegations of suspects being transferred out of the state under unclear circumstances.
By improving the integrity of evidence collection, the government hopes to restore public trust in the judicial system.
Commissioner of Police (CP) Emmanuel Adesina received the devices on behalf of the command, expressing gratitude for the timely and valuable support from the state government.
He pledged to personally ensure the phones are distributed to all police divisions with strict instructions for their proper use, stating that the new equipment will “undoubtedly improve our effectiveness in bringing criminals to justice.”
