The Director General, National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG Johnson Kokumo has highlighted the important role courts and the judicial system play in the legal process surrounding small arms and light weapons.
He also admits that there remains a gap in the national approach to the standard and unified protocol for handling forfeited weapons.
He stated this during a One-Day Retreat on the Forfeiture and Handling of Small Arms and Light Weapons organised by the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, held at the National Counter Terrorism Centre Abuja.
According to the Director General NCCSALW, the retreat serves as an essential platform to decuss strategie on the complex and evolving legal landscape surrounding the forfeiture and handling of small ams and aght weapons by the courts after judgement.
The retreat aims to highlight the legal aspects and procedures in the appropriate handling of recovered illicit weapons, the National Centre's role and jurisdiction and the international laws that govern the handling of such weapons and ammunition.
"Currently, forfeited arms post-judgment are typically handed over to the prosecuting agency – either the Nigeria Police Force or DSS depending on who prosecuted the case, leading to potential inconsistencies in the handling process"
" As a result of these gaps and inconsistencies there is the likelihood that these forfeited arms could fall into the wrong hands. This retreat therefore provides a platform to review these practices, aiming to establish a clear and standardized approach that prevents forfeited weapons from inadvertently falling back into the wrong hands" stated DG NCCSALW.
In a keynote address at the retreat, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu highlighted that the retreat is a timely intervention in addressing not just a procedural aspect of arms management, but a strategic element that impacts the ability to control illicit arms flow effectively.
The NSA who was represented by the Director law Enforcement and Liason, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Assistant Inspector General of Police AIG Rex Dundun, the NSA appreciated the judiciary for its commitment to efforts geared towards controlling the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons, promoting peace within the nation and the sub-region.
"Forfeited arms represent a significant national security challenge; once they are seized and designated as forfeited, the assurance that these weapons are securely managed and do not re-enter illegal circulation becomes a priority. Therefore, your being here is an opportunity to assess the current handling processes and fortify our system to better counteract the risks associated with illicit arms proliferation"
"You will all agree with me that this retreat addresses an increasingly complex dimension of our national security framework. This gathering today serves as both a call to action and an opportunity to reinforce our commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s security landscape" stated the NSA.
He stressed that the retreat is vital in providing platforms for discourse and collaboration, particularly when dealing with complex security issues such as the post judgement management of small arms and light weapons.
In a Paper Presentation titled "the Duty Of A Prosecutors In Ensuring That Forfeited Arms Do Not Reach The Wrong Hands by
Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Simon A. Lough who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), he said increase in small arms and light weapons and the urgent need to control it gave birth to the ECOWAS convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, adopted on 14th of June 2006.
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