The Executive Secretary Administration of Criminal Justice Committee (ACJC ) Federal Ministry of Justice Abuja Mr Sulayman Dawodu, has urged the Ebonyi State government to expedite action in strengthening effective implementation of Administration of Criminal Justice Law in the State.
Mr Dawodu made the assertion in abakaliki the state capital, on Wednesday while addressing stakeholders/participants at a Support Workshop by the Federal Ministry of Justice in conjunction with Mac Arthur Foundation.
The Support Workshop has as its theme,”Strengthening Effective Implementation of Administration of Criminal Justice Act/Law in Nigeria”
Mr Dawodu who spoke on the topic titled “Reinventing the Sector Reform Team, harps on the need for Ebonyi State government to review it’s justice delivery system in line with best standard practices.
He charged Ebonyj State Government to constitute State Reform Team, insisting that it would provide avenue where Policy Stakeholders would exchange information/ideas on justice delivery.
” We are here to offer support to Ebonyi State towards implementation of Administration of Criminal Justice Law”
According to him, “over 33 States have adopted Administration of Criminal Justice Law”
“For the first time we are having criminal Law across Nigeria, to guarantee minimum standard regarding Administration of Criminal Justice System”
Earlier in a remark, the Attorney General /Commissioner for Justice Ebonyi State Barrister Cletus Ofoke, represented by the Director of Citizens Right of the Ministry Barrister Israel Ikechukwu Alobu, identified lack of funding and lack of Secretariat, as impediments hampering implementation of the programme.
The State Attorney General said that the State government enacted Admistration of Criminal Justice law in 2015.
Barrister Ofoke spoke on the topic ” Establishment of the Justice System Team (JST) in Ebonyi State, the Journey so far”
He highlighted the challenges confronting the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice System to include lack of funding and low manpower.
“Government has approved 60 nos of Law Officers to be recruited into the state Ministry of Justice to beef up the man power”
In a lecture titled, ‘Road Map to Implementation of Administration of Criminal Justice Law, the Dean Faculty of Social Sciences Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ikwo Ebonyi State, Professor Smart Otu, harps on the need for the State government to embrace holistically every segment of the criminal justice law in order to enhance accelerated justice delivery.
“One challenge affecting implementation of Administration of Criminal Justice Law is low Manpower and lack of funding ”
Goodwill messages were delivered by the Ebonyi State Controller of Correctional Service represented by Mr Paul Nwovu, the State Director of Human Rights Commission Mr Okorie and the Nigeria Bar Association Abakaaliki and Onueke Branches.
In attendance at the event included Chief Registrar of Ebonyi State Customary Court of Appeal Mrs Onuoha Nnena, the Director of Public Prosecution State Ministry of Justice Mr Friday Nteoma and other Stakeholders in the administration of justice.
Other participants included the Chairmen of Nigeria Bar Association Abakaliki and Onueke Branches among others.
