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A Non-Governmental Organisation ‘CLEEN Foundation’ on Tuesday began a two day seminar on the implementation holding of criminal justice legislations in Kwara state.
Declaring the seminar open in Ilorin, Mr Gad Peter, Executive Director, CLEEN, NAINERS FOUNDATION, represented by the Programme Manager, Mrs Chigozirim Okoro, said the seminar was a follow-up on the earlier effort of the foundation on legislation on the administration of criminal justice in Nigeria.
He said the foundation was now more concerned with compliance and implementation of the provisions.
“The main objectives of the ACJA, as found in Section 1 of the Act, are to promote efficient management of criminal justice institutions, provide speedy dispensation of justice, as well as to protect the society from crime, while defending the rights and the interest of the defendant and the victim.
“These indicate a deliberate shift from punishment as the main goal of the criminal justice is to restorative justice, which pays attention to the needs of the society, the victims, vulnerable persons and human dignity.
“The Act preserves the existing criminal procedures, but contains a new and innovative provisions that is tailored to improve on the obvious flaws of the old legislations
“It introduces aspects that will enhance the efficiency and efficacy of the criminal justice system and finally brings our justice system in line with the dictates of International best practices in dealing with suspects and protection of their rights as accused persons,” he said.
The CLEEN boss, who noted that the Act has reformed the process of the arrest, explained that “under Section 10 (1) of the repealed criminal procedure Act, the Police could arrest without a warrant, any person who had no ostensible means of substance and who could not give a satisfactory account of himself.”
He, however, observed that the seminar and intervention of the CLEEN foundation would contribute robustly towards strengthening and enhancing the accountability of justice sector actors to execute their mandate in a more professional, transparent and just manner than before, to rid the focal states and Nigeria of judicial-enabled corruption.
In his remarks, the representative of the Kwara State Commissioner for Justice, Mr Abdulmumeen Busari, a Principal counsel at the Ministry, stated that the state did not use Act, but law, the scorecard, which he said had always been good, since the administration of criminal justice passed in 2018 in the state.
“Since the administration of criminal justice passed in the state in 2018, we have been doing fine in terms of implementation, although, there is always room for improvement,” he said.
Abdulmumeen added that the autonomy of judiciary recently signed into law by president Muhammadu Buhari would go a long way enhancing the implementation, most especially in the area of funds.
Also a resource person, Gbemisola Animasahun, an Associate Professor at the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ilorin, advocated creation of awareness among the rank and file of the law enforcement officers.
The seminar had in attendance, members of the judiciary, legal practitioners, officials of the State Ministry of Justice, representatives of the law enforcement agencies, members of the Civil Society Organisations, and media practitioners.
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