By Najeeb Sani
The Yobe State Government has constructed a new prison in the state capital, Damaturu, to decongest custodial facilities in Potiskum and Gashua, as part of measures to reform the criminal justice system.
Barrister Saleh Samanja, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, disclosed this during an interview with journalists.
He said the absence of a prison in the state capital previously forced authorities to detain all suspects in Potiskum, creating logistical and welfare challenges.
On corruption, Samanja said the ministry would establish an Anti-Corruption Unit before the end of this month in compliance with a directive by the Northern Governors Forum.
According to him, the unit would receive complaints from the public on corruption, abuse of office in government institutions and escalate verified cases to the EFCC, ICPC, or the Public Complaints Commission for investigation and prosecution.
The commissioner also urged citizens to report cases of human rights violations directly to the newly established Directorate of Citizens’ Rights in the Ministry of Justice for prompt intervention.
He said the directorate was created to handle issues such as malpractice, breach of trust, rape, gender-based violence and unfair inheritance distribution, which are often difficult to resolve through conventional courts.
