Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State has claimed that the sidelining of state high court from prosecuting drug peddlers is responsible for the delay in bringing offenders to book for their crimes in the state.
According to Masari, enabling only federal courts to hear the countless cases brought by the narcotics authorities not only causes the trials to drag on, but it also explains why there are so few examples of drug peddlers convicted in the state.
Masari made the statement during a courtesy call at the state government house from Muhammed Ibrahim, the new commander of the state’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
He said, “the clamour for state court to be included in the prosecution of drug dealers in the state will give them special interest to ensure that offenders are prosecuted in good time. But when you take them to Federal High Court, the lawyers would go there and bail them saying that it is a bailable offence. How can you give bail to a drug dealer who is more dangerous than a bandit? Without drug dealers, drug suppliers, there won’t be consumption of drugs and it will help to fight this issue of terrorism, banditry and all other sort of crimes carried out mainly under the influence of drugs.
“I think it is something you as an agency needs to look at and see how you can make provisions either within the law establishing the NDLEA or maybe if it is during the amendments of the constitution to make provisions for state courts because these offences are many and if you say only federal high court will prosecute it drags the cases and I think it makes justice.very slow to the extent that people are getting tired.”
Source:GhGossip.com
