The Borno Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Kaka Shehu, on Thursday said the ministry recorded 179 criminal cases within the past one year.
Shehu made this known while briefing journalists on achievements of the ministry within the past one year in Maiduguri.
Shehu said that the 179 cases comprised homicide, robbery, sexual and gender based violence.
“We have secured conviction on 87 cases, four cases were discharged for want of evidence while the remaining were at various stages, the achievements would have been more than this if not for COVID-19 pandemic that reduced the procedure in courts,” he said.
The attorney-general said that 93 inmates serving various jail terms were pardoned by Gov. Babagana Zulum, based on advice of the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, adding that 25 new lawyers were recruited to enhance service delivery in the state.
“The ministry saddled with the responsibility of drafting Bill’s and laws for the state also drafted a total of 14 bills and sent to the State Assembly and were passed into law.
“Some of the bills include the Borno State Education Trust Fund bill, Borno State Road Maintenance 2020 bill, Borno State Security Trusf Fund bill, Geography Information System bill and Contributory Health Insurance bill.
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“The ministry also vetted over 524 contracts agreement of the government to ensure that all contracts followed due process,” he said.
Shehu who is also a member of the State Security Council, added that the state government distributed 350 operational vehicles to security agencies in the state.
He noted that the vehicles assisted security agencies to respond quickly wherever their attention was needed in repelling or subduing many insurgent attacks.
“The formation of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) made up of various security organisations by the state government to support in patrolling and containing the incessant attacks by insurgents along major roads, particularly the Maiduguri-Damaturu road has been a success.
“We are also supporting Agro Rangers and hunters to protect our farmers.
“His Excellency in his usual magnanimity and concern for security has also improved the allowance of members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) to ginger them to be more effective,” he said.
Shehu also said that the state government established a security trust fund and constructed trenches and observation posts for security agencies, and acquired land for the for Nigeria Navy to establish its base along the shores of Lake Chad in Baga.
The attorney-general said that a high powered committee set up by the government to fish out criminals in some identified black spots in Maiduguri succeeded in arresting 57 cultists now facing prosecution.
Also, the Commissioner of Religious Affairs, Alhaji Abatcha Umar, said the ministry expended over N228 million in the construction/rehabilitation of some mosques, while the sum of N123.4 million was expended on Christian Pilgrimage conducted in November/December 2019.
He also said that the ministry embarked on rehabilitation of grave yards in Maiduguri, Jere and Kaga Local Government Areas.
“The ministry has carried out statistical data collection of Tsangaya and Islamiyya schools,” the commissioner said. (NAN)
