As Oyo CJ advocates training on criminal justice law for police officers

In a bid to promote efficient management of criminal justice
institution, speedy dispensation of justice as well as protection
of the society from crime, the Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice
Munta Abimbola, has advocated the training of police officers in
Criminal Justice Law. YEJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE reports.

The importance of complying with the provisions of the Criminal
Justice Law by enforcement agencies and all relevant authorities in
order to fast track criminal trials and ensure that offences
correspond with punishment and cases of awaiting trials get quick
dispensation came to the fore last week during a visit by the Oyo
State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Odude, to the Chief Judge of
Oyo State, Justice Munta Abimbola at the Oyo State High Court
premises, Ring road in Ibadan.

Justice Abimbola during the courtesy visit of the Police
Commissioner stated that the judiciary is prepared to fashion out
implementation strategies with internal process management
structures to monitor compliance and results of implementation of
Criminal Justice Law, urged the police not to lag behind in
complying with the provisions of the law.

Justice Abimbola stated that the inadequate training of officers
of the Nigeria Police Force in the principles of Criminal Justice
Law is responsible for loss of criminal cases before the courts,
adding that it is of utmost importance the Nigerian Police Force to
adequately equip its officers with the knowledge of Criminal
Justice Law.

The Chief Judge while addressing the team of Senior Police
Officers led by the Commissioner, noted that the speedy
dispensation of justice is essential for police officers to excel
in their profession

He explained that the police would continue to lose criminal
cases if they are not well trained to be conversant with the
workings of the

Administration of Criminal Justice law which was recently signed
into the law in the state.

“The Judiciary being the interpreter of the law and the police
being

the body responsible for enforcing the law must work together;
it becomes very imperative for the two bodies to work together for
the success of Administration of Criminal Justice law in the state.
Some sections of the Administration of Criminal Justice law
provides forspeedy dispensation of justice because justice is not
only for the claimant but also for the suspect and the public.

“I urge the police to always ensure to provide defendants in
court with evidence because if no evidence is provided and the
suspect continues to be in the prison for years, there would be
nothing the court could do than to discharge the suspect. The
police and the court must work in compliance with the law in order
not to infringe on the fundamental human right of the suspect,”
Justice Abimbola said.

The Chief Judge explained further that the police needs to train
its personnel and make them aware of the provision of the law which
stipulates that a suspect must not be detained for more than 24

hours before being charged to court, adding that if the police
wishes to detain a suspect for more than 24 hours, there is a need
to obtain a warrant which is bound to lapse in 14 days from a
magistrate court though he noted that the warrant is subject to
renewal under the provisions of the law.

Also speaking, Justice Eni Esan stated that most criminal cases
take longer periods in court because of the absence of most
Investigating Police Officer (IPO) and urged the CP to ensure that
IPO are always in court for trials and stop giving unnecessary
excuses.

While speaking, Police Commissioner Abiodun Odude noted that
effective collaboration between the judiciary and the force would
rid the society of crime and expressed the readiness of the force
to be more proactive in protecting the citizenry.

According to Odude, the effort of the judiciary is laudable as
the work of the police can only be successful with the
collaboration of the judiciary. He added that investigations are
hard to carry out and cannot be concluded within 24 hours and some
magistrates do not cooperate with the police on the issue of
warrants.

And with the renewed collaboration between the judiciary and the
police, justice dispensation in Oyo state seems headed for a fast
track.

In a bid to promote efficient management of criminal justice
institution, speedy dispensation of justice as well as protection
of the society from crime, the Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice
Munta Abimbola, has advocated the training of police officers in
Criminal Justice Law. YEJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE reports.

The importance of complying with the provisions of the Criminal
Justice Law by enforcement agencies and all relevant authorities in
order to fast track criminal trials and ensure that offences
correspond with punishment and cases of awaiting trials get quick
dispensation came to the fore last week during a visit by the Oyo
State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Odude, to the Chief Judge of
Oyo State, Justice Munta Abimbola at the Oyo State High Court
premises, Ring road in Ibadan.

Justice Abimbola during the courtesy visit of the Police
Commissioner stated that the judiciary is prepared to fashion out
implementation strategies with internal process management
structures to monitor compliance and results of implementation of
Criminal Justice Law, urged the police not to lag behind in
complying with the provisions of the law.

Justice Abimbola stated that the inadequate training of officers
of the Nigeria Police Force in the principles of Criminal Justice
Law is responsible for loss of criminal cases before the courts,
adding that it is of utmost importance the Nigerian Police Force to
adequately equip its officers with the knowledge of Criminal
Justice Law.

The Chief Judge while addressing the team of Senior Police
Officers led by the Commissioner, noted that the speedy
dispensation of justice is essential for police officers to excel
in their profession

He explained that the police would continue to lose criminal
cases if they are not well trained to be conversant with the
workings of the

Administration of Criminal Justice law which was recently signed
into the law in the state.

“The Judiciary being the interpreter of the law and the police
being

the body responsible for enforcing the law must work together;
it becomes very imperative for the two bodies to work together for
the success of Administration of Criminal Justice law in the state.
Some sections of the Administration of Criminal Justice law
provides forspeedy dispensation of justice because justice is not
only for the claimant but also for the suspect and the public.

“I urge the police to always ensure to provide defendants in
court with evidence because if no evidence is provided and the
suspect continues to be in the prison for years, there would be
nothing the court could do than to discharge the suspect. The
police and the court must work in compliance with the law in order
not to infringe on the fundamental human right of the suspect,”
Justice Abimbola said.

The Chief Judge explained further that the police needs to train
its personnel and make them aware of the provision of the law which
stipulates that a suspect must not be detained for more than 24

hours before being charged to court, adding that if the police
wishes to detain a suspect for more than 24 hours, there is a need
to obtain a warrant which is bound to lapse in 14 days from a
magistrate court though he noted that the warrant is subject to
renewal under the provisions of the law.

Also speaking, Justice Eni Esan stated that most criminal cases
take longer periods in court because of the absence of most
Investigating Police Officer (IPO) and urged the CP to ensure that
IPO are always in court for trials and stop giving unnecessary
excuses.

While speaking, Police Commissioner Abiodun Odude noted that
effective collaboration between the judiciary and the force would
rid the society of crime and expressed the readiness of the force
to be more proactive in protecting the citizenry.

According to Odude, the effort of the judiciary is laudable as
the work of the police can only be successful with the
collaboration of the judiciary. He added that investigations are
hard to carry out and cannot be concluded within 24 hours and some
magistrates do not cooperate with the police on the issue of
warrants.

And with the renewed collaboration between the judiciary and the
police, justice dispensation in Oyo state seems headed for a fast
track.