The Kano State Government has announced that it will conclude the review of the proposed amendments to the harmonised draft of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) (VAPP) Law and the Kano State Penal Code within two weeks.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdulkarim Kabiru Maude, SAN, disclosed this on Wednesday during a two-day joint review meeting of the Harmonised Penal Code and the VAPP Law organised by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Kano State Branch, in collaboration with the Kano State Ministry of Justice.
The meeting brought together stakeholders, development partners, civil society organisations and legal practitioners to review proposals aimed at strengthening the state’s legal framework.
Maude said the Ministry of Justice had taken note of recommendations submitted during the review and would subject them to a comprehensive legal assessment before forwarding the proposed amendments to the Kano State Executive Council for approval and subsequent transmission to the State House of Assembly.
“We have carefully considered the various proposals and recommendations presented during this review process. At the conclusion of this exercise, the Ministry of Justice will undertake a thorough examination of all the submissions,” he said.
The Attorney General disclosed that a committee would be constituted immediately to review the proposed amendments, assuring stakeholders that the assignment would be completed within two weeks.
“Once the Ministry concludes its review, the proposed amendments will be forwarded without delay to the Kano State Executive Council for consideration and approval before transmission to the Kano State House of Assembly,” he stated.
He reaffirmed the state’s commitment to ensuring the amended law is enacted.
“We are fully committed to ensuring that the proposed amendments see the light of day and ultimately become law. The time, effort and resources invested in this important exercise will, by the grace of Almighty Allah, not be in vain,” Maude added.
According to him, the review is aimed at strengthening legal protection for vulnerable persons while ensuring the law reflects Kano State’s social, cultural and religious values in line with the principles of the Qur’an and Sunnah.
He expressed optimism that the review would improve access to justice and enhance protection for victims of violence across the state.
The Attorney General also commended development partners, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and civil society organisations for their technical support and contributions to the review process.
Earlier, Chairperson of FIDA Nigeria, Kano State Branch, Her Worship Chief Magistrate Salma Ahmad Danbappha (Rtd.), reaffirmed the association’s commitment to supporting legal reforms that improve access to justice and protect the rights of women, children and other vulnerable persons.
Danbappha said FIDA played a key role in the harmonisation process through technical support, stakeholder engagement and advocacy to ensure the effective integration of the VAPP Law into Kano’s legal framework.
“Eliminating duplication and closing legal gaps will create a more coherent and enforceable law, improve access to justice for survivors, and strengthen accountability for perpetrators of violence. The ultimate goal is to produce a law that is comprehensive, accessible and enforceable,” she said.
She added that FIDA Kano would continue working with the Ministry of Justice and other stakeholders to ensure the relevant procedural provisions of the VAPP framework are incorporated into appropriate laws and institutional mechanisms to strengthen gender-based violence prevention, protection, prosecution and survivor response across the state.
The review process is supported by the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC II) Programme, funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), which has assisted the Kano State Government in the harmonisation exercise since 2021.
