Isiyaku Ahmed
The League of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Kano State has applauded the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Abdulkarim Kabiru Maude, SAN, for what it described as his “transformative” and “forward-looking” reforms since assuming office.
In a statement endorsed by the 23 members of the League and made available to Stallion Times on Saturday in Kano, said Maude’s emergence at a critical period in the state’s governance has rekindled hope for a more efficient, transparent, and accessible justice system.
According to the League of CSOs, the Attorney General has demonstrated a firm commitment to institutional restructuring, justice-sector transformation, and the strengthening of governance frameworks that uphold fairness and the rule of law.
Commendations for Key Achievements
The League of CSOs highlighted several achievements recorded under Maude’s leadership, including improvements to justice-sector operations through enhanced case-tracking, streamlined legal-opinion processes, and better synergy among the Civil Litigation, Public Prosecution, and Legal Drafting departments.
These reforms, it said, have strengthened coordination and contributed to faster justice delivery.
The League further commended the expansion of access-to-justice initiatives, such as the revival of legal-aid structures and the reactivation of mediation centres in Bichi, Takai, and Kabuga aimed at reducing case backlogs and resolving community-level disputes.
It also noted ongoing efforts to modernise state laws, including the planned digitalisation of the legal-drafting process and the review of criminal-justice statutes in line with the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL).
These steps, the group said, align Kano State with international best practices.
The Attorney General’s move to establish Case Evaluation Units within the Directorate of Public Prosecutions was hailed as a significant step toward eliminating frivolous cases and reducing congestion in the courts.
His collaboration with anti-corruption agencies and strengthened engagement with the judiciary, legislature, police, and other justice-sector stakeholders were also praised.
Calls for Stronger Reforms
Despite the commendations, the League of CSOs urged the Attorney General to deepen reforms in key areas.
It called for the full revitalisation and expansion of legal-aid services to ensure access to justice for marginalised groups, including women, persons with disabilities, and financially disadvantaged individuals.
The League also emphasised the importance of reactivating the Law Reform Committee to address obsolete statutes and harmonise state laws with modern realities.
Additionally, it urged the acceleration of justice-system digitisation, including digital filing, online case tracking, and automated legal drafting to reduce inefficiencies and enhance transparency.
The League of CSOs further encouraged swift implementation of recommendations on reducing delays in criminal trials, stronger synergy in anti-corruption efforts, and the cultivation of broader partnerships with NGOs, development partners, and the Nigerian Bar Association to sustain reforms.
Commitment to Collaboration
The League reaffirmed its readiness to partner with the Office of the Attorney General to build a just, inclusive, and transparent legal system that serves all residents of Kano State equitably.
It described ongoing reforms as promising and urged the Attorney General to sustain the momentum to ensure long-lasting transformation of the justice sector.
Endorsed by:
- Comrade Bala Abdullahi Gaduwama – Wuro Development Concerns (WDCN)
- Yusha’u Sani Yankuzo, Esq. – Centre for Human Rights and Social Advancement (CEFSAN)
- Mohammed Bello – African Centre for Innovative Research and Development (Afri-CIRD)
- Abdullahi Y. Sule – Youth and Environmental Development Association (YEDA)
- Abdulkadir Musa Hausawa – Youth Enlightenment Forum
- Adeniyi Aremu, Esq. – Civil Society Organization for Conflict Resolution in Nigeria (CS-CRIN)
- Sani Ilyas Abdullahi, Esq. – Joint Action Front (JAF), Kano State
- Comrade Fatima A. Ibrahim – United Action for Democracy (UAD), Kano State
- Comrade Khadija Hudu A. – Justice, Accountability and Rights Advocacy Centre
- Abba Bello Ahmed – Campaign for Democracy (CD), Kano State
- Comrade Moh’d Sani Garba – Pay it Forward Initiative
- Fatima Muhammad – Gender Inclusive and Development Support Initiative, Kano
- Aminu Sani Muhammad, Esq. – Rule of Law and Justice Advancement Network (ROLJAN)
- Comrade M. K. Adam – Societal Based Initiative for Rights Peace and Development (SOBIRPED)
- Fatima Ibrahim Badamasi – Gender Support and Youth Empowerment Initiative (GENSAYE)
- Buhari Abubakar Usman – Centre for Legal Orientation and Humanitarian Aid (CELOHA)
- Abdullahi Yahaya, Esq. – Publish What You Pay (PWYP), Kano State
- Comrade Auwal Salisu – Centre for Awareness Reorientation and Empowerment (CARE-Africa)
- Umar Isa Sulaiman, Esq. – Frontier for Gender Advocacy, Accountability & Empowerment Initiative
- Maryam Garba Usman – Centre for Gender and Social Inclusion (CAGSI)
- Fatima Chabir Aliyu, Esq. – Community Based Equal Justice Initiative
- Comrade Salisu Ibrahim Sa’eed – Kano Youth Integrity Forum
- Comrade Baraya Garba Hassan – Centre for Education Health and Entrepreneurship Development (CEHED) Nigeria
