Lack of forensic labs frustrating rape cases in Jigawa — NBA

The Nigerian Bar Association’s Jigawa branch says the lack of forensic laboratories is undermining prosecutions and convictions in rape and other sexual violence cases. Chairman Hamza Umar told a CLEEN Foundation policy dialogue in Dutse that courts require scientific evidence, while prosecutors still rely on confessions that may be rejected. Participants called for at least five sexual assault referral centres and criticized the failure to publish the names of convicted rapists, as required by the 2021 VAPP Law. The CLEEN Foundation urged the Jigawa State Government to fund forensic labs, establish more referral centres and train staff responsible for implementing the law.