The Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter, on Tuesday, distributed relief materials to the Nigeria Police stations across the nation's Capital.

Distribution of the relief materials, alongside the ACJMC Act Gazette, was part of the custody management project to 25 Police stations in the FCT in compliance with the Act. Sulayman Dawodu, Secretary of ACJMC FCT, stated that the objective was to ensure that detainees were offered a humane environment irrespective of the fact that they were in detention. He explained that the ACJMC was offering these materials to ensure that detainees do not get to sleep on bare floor and also to ensure that the stations visited were in tune and compliance with the with the ACJMC Act as the welfare of inmates was a priority as they await trial.

“By this act, we are setting the pace for ACJMCs at the state level to be a driving force, to ensure the act is replicated in the 36 states.

“For now, we decided to do this little. As time goes on, there will be an improvement and we will be donating something bigger. The idea is to start from somewhere and grow,” Dawodu said.

He further disclosed that ACJMC was putting forward a Police Station Duty Scheme, which would provide lawyers for the indigent to assist in handling their case.

“This will not be to usurp or override your office such that it will create loggerheads but will work within their jurisdiction to help those who are unable to get a lawyer to fight their cause and get justice,” he added.

The DPO of Utako station, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Godfrey Victor, noted the Police was the gateway to the Criminal Justice System as they are closer to the people and very important to the implementation of the Act.

Victor lamented that the detainees were not thought of in the scheme of things, though it was a good thing to fight for the compliance of the Act as it concerned detainees, and suggested that victims should be put into consideration.

“We appreciate your kind gesture and the need to educate us by the offering of the ACJMC Act. Knowledge, as we know, is power. We will go through it and try to be compliant.

“The Act, I know, is about improvement and it will be put to great use. There is a need to also consider the victim as they are, most times, not considered when the suspect is arrested.”

He reiterated the fact that the best ways to treat detainees should be with dignity as they, too, deserve respect as this could make them to be open during interrogations.

In the same vein, Harrison Oruruo, DPO of Wuye District, disclosed that the staff under his command have familiarised themselves with the Act which simplified version, he said, in use for the implementation of custody management to enhance the capacity and welfare of the detainees. He, however, stated that the new office building under construction would offer a better standard for operation.

The materials were also distributed to Wuse, Garki, Mabushi, Mpape Police Stations.