FIC Report (Ebonyi State) – The Federal Ministry of Justice, in collaboration with the Ebonyi State Government has built stakeholders’ capacities in the implementation of some critical sections of the Nigeria Criminal Justice Act of 2015.
The Act, which was domesticated as criminal justice law of Ebonyi State in 2019, was yet to have some of its important sections, especially sections 29, 30, 32 and 34 fully implemented in the state owing to some institutional gaps.
The workshop was organised by the Federal Ministry of Justice in collaboration with the Ebonyi State Government held in Abakaliki Ebonyi State Capital
It brought together Magistrates, Lawyers, security agencies, including the Police, Civil Defence, Correctional Officers and other players to a roundtable towards fashioning a collaborative approach to the implementation of the law.
Explaining the essence of the workshop, the Secretary of the Federal Justice Reform Coordinating Committee, Felix Ota-Okojie, stated that it was to interface and build the capacity of stakeholders in the administration of criminal justice in Ebonyi State including Magistrates who have been empowered under section 34 of the Act to visit Police stations to ensure that people are not kept in Police cells or remanded without trial longer than necessary.
Okojie added: “The essence of the workshop is to trigger the implementation of the administration of criminal justice Act 2015, the administration of criminal justice law of Ebonyi State 2019 and police Act 2020 in Ebonyi State.”
Okojie, who also represented the Attorney-General of the Federation at the event further explained that Section 29 of the Act provided that the Commissioner of Police in every state should submit quarterly report of arrests and investigation over criminal offences to the State Attorney-General to enable the state plan and manage crime.
He maintained that the Act when fully implemented through effective stakeholders’ collaboration would help eliminate the unwarranted congestions in the nation’s Correctional facilities.
Speaking to journalist, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Ben Uruchi Odo, said the powers and limits of institutions involved in criminal justice administration were already provided in the Ebonyi State Administration of Criminal Justice law 2019.
He said Ebonyi State has gone far in implementing the provisions of the Act in the state.
He said: “Part of what we intend to achieve in this workshop is to make the different agencies, including the police know their limits to ensure speedy dispensation of criminal justice and protect the rights of citizens.
As for the implementation of section 181, the laying off of lay prosecutors, we have fully implemented that. The areas we are having problem now is in the implementation of section 30, 34 and 35.
And I know that at the end of this legal townhall meeting and parley, the Police will know their limits; magistrates will know theirs and the Law Officers in the Ministry of Justice will also know theirs.
Odo, who is also the Chairman of Ebonyi State Administration of Criminal Justice Reform team, expressed optimism that the outcome of the stakeholders workshop would facilitate the implementation of the sections.
Declaring the workshop open, the Ebonyi Deputy Governor, Princess Patricia Obila, who represented Governor Francis Nwifuru described the training as timely, adding that the synergy was necessary to achieve the best in the state’s justice reform system.
While commending the Attorney General of the state for his numerous achievements aimed at improving the justice sector of the state, Obila appreciated the judiciary for partnering with the state government in driving effective justice system in the state.
She expressed optimism that the workshop will further strengthen institutions, processes and procedures in the administration of criminal justice in the state.
Signed
BAKARE LAURETTA
HOC FIC ABAKALIKI
