The Kano State Grand Khadi, Tijjani Ibrahim Yakasai, has urged the Kano State House of Assembly to expand the jurisdiction of Chief Magistrates’ Courts, enabling them to hear and adjudicate capital offense cases, thereby reducing the workload of cases and facilitating the swift dispensation of justice in Kano.
The Grand Khadi Tijjani Yakasai made the assertion at a programme for the distribution of food items to 100 vulnerable women, their children and people living with disabilities, selected from various places in Kano. Organised by Kakaki Humanitarian Rights and Advocacy Centre.
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Represented by Khadi Mustapha Lalloki, Kano State Grand Khadi, Tijjani Ibrahim Yakasai, advocated for prison decongestion and the protection of human rights for inmates.
According to him, to achieve this, he established a committee to oversee prison decongestion and emphasized the need for accelerated hearings.
He stressed the significance of decongestion, encouraging judges to apply non-custodial terms for lesser offenses.
Yakasai also commended members of the Kakaki Humanitarian Foundation for their commitment, urging them to intensify awareness and enlightenment campaigns.
Furthermore, he called on media practitioners to contact the judiciary for balanced reporting when ever the need arise.
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“Non-custodial sentencing has been proposed as a solution to reduce prison populations and promote restorative justice.”
Also speaking, a prominent Human Rights Advocate, Barrister Badiha Abdullahi Mu’azu expressed support for the Grand Khadi’s call to expand the jurisdiction of Upper Shari’a Court Magistrates.
She maintained that this expansion would enable them to hear culpable homicide cases, in line with Section 20 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (2019).
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The advocate emphasized that the Administration of Criminal Justice Law allows magistrates to hold charges for capital offenses pending advice from the Ministry of Justice.
However, she lamented that the improper structure has hindered the law’s full implementation.
To address this, Barrister Badiha urged Kano lawmakers to expand the jurisdiction of Chief Magistrates’ Courts to hear criminal cases, including rape and culpable homicide.
She explained that a section of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) allows magistrates to hold charges for capital offenses only, pending advice from the Ministry of Justice.
Despite the ACJA’s establishment in 2019, she lamented that its improper structure hinders full implementation.
To address this, she urged Kano lawmakers to expand the jurisdiction of Chief Magistrates’ Courts to hear and entertain criminal cases, including rape and culpable homicide.
She also emphasized the importance of parental responsibility, calling on parents and caregivers to protect their children from harm, especially in today’s globalized and technology-driven world.
Furthermore, she stressed that the entire society, including film producers, religious leaders, traditional institutions, and individuals, have a crucial role to play in making Kano a better place to live.
Also speaking, Baba Jibo Ibrahim, spokesperson of the Kano State High Court, said the foundation came into existence following the Freedom Radio program on human rights, justice, and law. “Four months after establishing the Kakaki Humanitarian Foundation, it has successfully conducted a lot of humanitarian services,” he added.
According to him, some of the foundation’s activities include humanitarian services, litigation, awareness, radio, and television campaign.
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He called on other philanthropic organizations to join hands with the foundation to make it more functional.
Justice Watch News gathered that Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata donated N10 million through his son, Alhaji Muhammad Aminu Dantata, who also contributed N1 million.
Alhaji Muhammad Aminu Dantata urged the Kakaki Humanitarian Foundation to create more awareness about its programs, assuring them that his doors are open to support the foundation’s efforts to develop humanity.
