PSC Chair Seeks Justice for Crime Victims, Calls for Criminal Justice Reform.
Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), retired Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Hashimu Argungu, has called for a comprehensive reform of Nigeria’s criminal justice system to ensure that victims of crime are no longer marginalized and treated as mere witnesses, but as central figures deserving of justice and dignity.
Speaking at the Review and Validation Workshop on the Draft Toolkit for Enhancing the Capacity of Police Oversight Bodies, organized by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Abuja on Tuesday, September 17th, 2024, DIG Argungu emphasized the need for justice for crime victims.
He stressed the urgency of rebalancing the justice system to address the rights of victims, noting that “justice must be rebalanced to ensure that victims of crime are treated with dignity, compassion, and fairness.” DIG Argungu highlighted that victims of crime often suffer pain, humiliation, and a sense of powerlessness at the hands of offenders, and in cases where offenders cannot provide reparations, the state or federal government should offer compensation.
He further advocated for victims’ right to active participation in the criminal court process, with legal representation provided to protect their safety and well-being. “It is not enough to treat victims as mere bystanders; justice for crime victims requires that they are fully integrated into the judicial process,” Argungu stated.
In his address, the PSC Chairman also outlined the Commission’s focus on tackling human rights violations, specifically in areas where law enforcement abuses their powers, including issues related to arrest, detention, interrogation, and the overall treatment of suspects.
DIG Argungu reaffirmed the jurisdiction of the police in addressing public wrongs while stressing that civil matters, such as land disputes, rent issues, marital disputes, and contractual disagreements, should be resolved through civil courts. “The police should not intervene in private civil matters; instead, complainants must be directed to pursue civil suits,” he concluded.
The workshop was part of an ongoing effort to improve the capacity of police oversight bodies to uphold human rights and ensure justice for crime victims, with the PSC playing a critical role in this process.
Ikechukwu Ani
Head, Press and Public Relations
Tuesday, September 17th, 2024
