* Charges member on effectiveness
The Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Munta Abimbola on Friday
said, for the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) to be
effectively implemented, the members of the monitoring committee
must avail and familiarize themselves with the provisions of the
law.
This is coming as the CJ also admonishes the members of a newly
inaugurated committee of the ACJ Law 2016, in the state to rise up
to the challenges of reinforcing confidence in the Justice system
particularly criminal justice and its trial process.
The event which held at the Conference room of the Oyo State
High Court had in attendance top judicial officers in the state,
representatives of security agencies, Non-Governmental
Organizations, representative of Nigerian Bar Association among
others.
Abimbola reiterated that the Administration of criminal Justice
Act, as domesticated in the state, has been acclaimed as
revolutionary piece of legislation seeking to address the
inefficiency and ineffectiveness of the Criminal Justice in the
country.
Recall that the State House of Assembly passed its own law on
the domestication of the ACJ law in 2016.
Noting that, although, the implementation committee was long
overdue for inauguration, logistics issues hindered the
implementation, expressing joy that the committee was eventually
inaugurated.
Citing various provisions of the Act, the Chief Judge emphasized
that the law “is a paradigm shift in the criminal justice system of
Nigeria from a punitive approach to a restorative approach towards
the needs of the society, victims and human dignity.
“Specifically in subsection (2), the provision has bestowed on
this committee enormous challenges and tasking responsibilities of
ensuring that all stakeholders in the Administration of Criminal
Justice Sector apply the provisions of Administration of Criminal
Justice Law to the letter with the aim of promoting:
“Effective management of the Criminal Justice Institutions
(System); speedy and expeditious determination of Criminal cases;
decongestion of prisons and ensuring synergy and cooperation
amongst all the sectors in the administration of criminal justice
in the state.”
He also charged the committee to be humane and merciful in their
approaches and discharge of the duties.
To ensure the effectiveness of the committee, the Chief Judge at
the event put in place five subcommittees with practice
directions.
The committees and the chairman are: Decongestion of Prison
Committee (Justice Abimbola as chairman), committee on
Non-Custodial Sentencing (to be headed by Justice Iyabo Yerima),
committee on sentencing guidelines (to be chaired by Justice B. A
Taiwo), committee on registered and licensing of bonds persons
(Justice M. I. Sule) and the committee on decongestion of
police/other law enforcement agencies, places of detention (to be
headed by Justice A. F Adeeyo).
Justice Abimbola also thanked the state Governor Abiola Ajimobi
for his efforts as well as “his unalloyed support and confidence in
the leadership of the judiciary.”
He also thanked the state Attorney General, Mr Oluseun Abimbola
for “his steadfastness, hard work and contributions to the success
of the Justice sector in Oyo state.”
In her short remarks, the President, Customary Court of Appeal,
Oyo state, Justice Eni Esan commended the CJ on ensuring that the
ACJL implementation committee is inaugurated despite all
challenges, noting that the CJ has done so much to move the
judiciary forward in the state.
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Army Reorganizes Exercise Harbin Kunama III
The Nigerian Army has embarked on the reorganization and
expansion of the mandate the Exercise HARBIN KUNAMA III currently
operating in Zamfara state to effectively ensure the complete
defeat of the fleeing bandits.
The Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Tukur Buratai stated this while
briefing the press at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.
The development, according to him, is to restore public
confidence and enhance safety while also ensuring socio-economic
activities continue without fear or intimidation in Zamfara state
and its environs.
Lt Gen Buratai who was represented at the occasion by the Chief
of Training and Operations(CTOPs) of the Nigerian Army, Major
General Lamidi Adeosun said the reorganization will entail the
involvement of other sister security agencies in form of Joint Task
Force(JTF) to rid the zone of criminal elements.
“It is on this premise that I want to plead with the general
public to persevere in the face of seeming inconveniences due to
restrictions that may be imposed in these areas while the Nigerian
Army is conducting the exercise”.
He noted that the “Nigerian Army mandate is aimed at building
confidence and ensuring our country is rid of criminal elements
that are poised to destabilize the normal life, rights and freedom
of the people across the country as enshrined in the Nigerian
Constitution”.
“I want to assure the general public that the Nigerian Army will
carry out its constitutional mandate professionally and within the
ambit of the law while adhering to the Rules of Engagement
(ROE)”
He appealed to the general public to claim ownership of the
security of the country and willfully avail the Army with credible
information that will assist in flushing out subversive and
criminal elements from their hideouts and safe haven.
“Be rest assured that the Nigerian Army will continue to support
the non-kinetic efforts of the civil authority to combat
criminality and banditry as well as prevent it from gaining
traction and spreading to other relatively peaceful regions of the
country”, he said.
The Army Chief also appreciated the traditional rulers and
religious leaders and further enjoin them to continue to support
the Army with credible information that will assist in the
professional conduct of our exercises and operations to rid the
area of banditry and criminality.
“They are encouraged to continue to galvanize their subjects and
followers to tow the path of peaceful resolution of conflicts
rather than resulting to violence which does nobody any good. I use
this medium to once again call on all religious leaders to pray for
the success of our exercise and operations as well as pray for the
total eradication of insecurity in our country”, he said.