The Chief Judge of Borno State, Justice Kashim Zannah on Tuesday
solicited full support and cooperation from stakeholders to review
and revalidate the Borno State Criminal Procedure and Penal Code
Laws (1994), in order to pave way from primitive to international
best practices for speedy dispensation of justice.
![image](/2020/10/lawreport.jpg")
![image](/2021/06/Legal-Research-On-The-Go2.jpg")
He said, to improve and reposition the criminal justice system
in Borno which has been ravaged by over a decade of Boko Haram
conflict, all hands must be on deck for better justice
delivery.
![image](/2021/05/NBASBL2021.jpg")
Justice Zanna stated this while declaring open a 3-Day workshop
for validation of the two laws (Criminal Procedure Law and Penal
Code Law) organized by Borno State Justice Sector Reform, JSR, in
collaboration with British Council (BC).
In his welcome address, the Chairman of JSR team, Borno state,
Justice Haruna Mshelia said, the workshop which has members from
the Police, Correctional Service, Judiciary, Ministry of Justice,
Civil Society Organizations, the Media among others is apt and
timely.
He said, in view of the role and dynamism of law in the society,
a Committee was inaugurated for review of the two laws in the
state.
The Committee he said, commenced work by creating sub committee
to review some principal laws affecting administration of justice,
sadly, as the sub-committee’s work progressed, the Covid -19
pandemic struck, thereby slowing down activity. Nonetheless, the
committee mow has the Drafts of the penal code law and Criminal
Procedure Law to evaluate for validation.
Therefore, the Justice Reform Team, JRT as a multi sectoral
reform leveraged on its Partnership with Development Partners like
the British Council under the programme “Managing Conflict in
Nigeria” to pilot the validation process of the two laws, hence,
this stakeholders workshop to enable for updating of the draft in
terms of draftsmanship technical know-how and retreat for members
in the state.
“The clamour for reform in the criminal justice system in
Nigeria has been a long one. This clamour was ingnited by the
unnecessary delays in the trial process, congestions in prisons and
dockets of Court with resultant implication on citizens’
constitutional roghts.
“To address these ills, the Federal Government promulgated the
Administration of the Criminal Justice Act 2015. That singular act
witnessed mounting pressure on states to review their criminal
justice laws in line with the Act.
“This workshop is to give all stakeholders, the opportunity to
have an insight into the draft laws with the view to understanding
it and make input on areas that border on their mandate, have
critical analysis and harmonization”. Mshelia said.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister
Kaka Shehu Lawan, represented by the acting Solicitor General,
Barrister Abdullahi Hussaini pledged for full support to ensure a
better justice system in the state.
In his goodwill message, the National Programme Manager of
Managing Conflict, MCN in Nigeria, Professor Muhammed Tabiu, SAN,
represented by Dr. Ukoha Ukinwo, said, “MCN which is a partner,
aims to support Nigerians with conflict resolution, at both the
state and community level, especially in Borno, with focuses on
reducing violence, promoting stability and strengthening
resilience, so that Nigerians feel more safe and secure in their
communities”.
The Chief Judge of Borno State, Justice Kashim Zannah on Tuesday
solicited full support and cooperation from stakeholders to review
and revalidate the Borno State Criminal Procedure and Penal Code
Laws (1994), in order to pave way from primitive to international
best practices for speedy dispensation of justice.
He said, to improve and reposition the criminal justice system
in Borno which has been ravaged by over a decade of Boko Haram
conflict, all hands must be on deck for better justice
delivery.
Justice Zanna stated this while declaring open a 3-Day workshop
for validation of the two laws (Criminal Procedure Law and Penal
Code Law) organized by Borno State Justice Sector Reform, JSR, in
collaboration with British Council (BC).
In his welcome address, the Chairman of JSR team, Borno state,
Justice Haruna Mshelia said, the workshop which has members from
the Police, Correctional Service, Judiciary, Ministry of Justice,
Civil Society Organizations, the Media among others is apt and
timely.
He said, in view of the role and dynamism of law in the society,
a Committee was inaugurated for review of the two laws in the
state.
The Committee he said, commenced work by creating sub committee
to review some principal laws affecting administration of justice,
sadly, as the sub-committee’s work progressed, the Covid -19
pandemic struck, thereby slowing down activity. Nonetheless, the
committee mow has the Drafts of the penal code law and Criminal
Procedure Law to evaluate for validation.
Therefore, the Justice Reform Team, JRT as a multi sectoral
reform leveraged on its Partnership with Development Partners like
the British Council under the programme “Managing Conflict in
Nigeria” to pilot the validation process of the two laws, hence,
this stakeholders workshop to enable for updating of the draft in
terms of draftsmanship technical know-how and retreat for members
in the state.
“The clamour for reform in the criminal justice system in
Nigeria has been a long one. This clamour was ingnited by the
unnecessary delays in the trial process, congestions in prisons and
dockets of Court with resultant implication on citizens’
constitutional roghts.
“To address these ills, the Federal Government promulgated the
Administration of the Criminal Justice Act 2015. That singular act
witnessed mounting pressure on states to review their criminal
justice laws in line with the Act.
“This workshop is to give all stakeholders, the opportunity to
have an insight into the draft laws with the view to understanding
it and make input on areas that border on their mandate, have
critical analysis and harmonization”. Mshelia said.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister
Kaka Shehu Lawan, represented by the acting Solicitor General,
Barrister Abdullahi Hussaini pledged for full support to ensure a
better justice system in the state.
In his goodwill message, the National Programme Manager of
Managing Conflict, MCN in Nigeria, Professor Muhammed Tabiu, SAN,
represented by Dr. Ukoha Ukinwo, said, “MCN which is a partner,
aims to support Nigerians with conflict resolution, at both the
state and community level, especially in Borno, with focuses on
reducing violence, promoting stability and strengthening
resilience, so that Nigerians feel more safe and secure in their
communities”.