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| CHAIRMAN OF THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMITTEE ON CORRECTIONAL REFORM AND DECONGESTION, RETIRED HONOURABLE JUSTICE (DR.) ISHAQ BELLO IN A GROUP PHOTOGRAPH WITH THE PARTICIPANT AT THE ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE MONITORING COMMITTEE 1ST ANNUAL CONFERENCE, 10TH NOVEMBER, 2021 AT NAF CONFERENCE CENTRE, KADO ABUJA. |
The Pioneer Chairman of Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC) and Former Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Hon. Justice Ishaq Bello, has tasked the committee to embrace global standard operating procedure in the administration of Criminal Justice in Nigeria.
He said this in Abuja at the First Annual Conference involving stakeholders from across the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT
Describing the event as a day of celebration, he advised that all hands must be on the deck in order to strengthen the key components of the Administration of Criminal Justice System in Nigeria.
โAll hands must be on deck to understand that what the Act is out to achieve is elimination of these bottlenecks that make the system lesser than standard internationally recognized. Sometimes, you donโt seem to understand that these drawbacks inhibit meaningful investment into this country because outside the shores of this country, anybody who wants to come for investment will look out for how the justice system worksโ. Bello emphasized.
In the light of the above, the former Chief Judge further revealed that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act was the first law signed by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR in 2015. He also disclosed that several states of the Federation have already domesticated the Act. He added that the Act cum the establishment of the Committee were to help address the problems bedevilling the administration of Criminal justice in Nigeria.
He describe the ACJMC as a pivotal engine room that would provide standard operating procedure towards proffering solutions to such bottlenecks such as unnecessary delay tactics by counsels, frivolities, arrests without thorough investigation and awaiting trial phenomenon, adjournments, stay of proceedings and Interlocutory injunctions among others. He urged the forum to be determined in resolving the problems so that Presiding, Trial and Post Judgement Judges could do their work seamlessly.
In his welcome remarks the Chief Judge of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Honourable Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf and the current chairman of ACJMC explained that the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC), was one of the most important innovations of ACJA 2015 as it established a mechanism by which the implementation of the provisions of the ACT would be closely monitored to ensure compliance and uniformity of application by all relevant agencies and institutions charged with responsibilities under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
According to Baba โYusuf who was represented by Hon. Justice Josephine Obanor , โI consider this as a veritable opportunity to make necessary inputs for the advancement of criminal justice reform in Nigeria and I also encourage all members present to have the same consideration about their involvement in this great event todayโโ.
He concluded by thanking the Secretary of the ACJMC Mr Sulayman Dawodu and his team, their partners and the entire secretariat for working tirelessly without major financial incentives.
In his earlier welcome address, the representative of the Acting Solicitor General/Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Justice, Etsu .U Mohammed, a Director from the Ministry, Mr Abdulrahim Shaibu, said that a lot had been done in the process of Criminal Justice Administration especially with backing of the National Assembly.
The SGF/PS while commending participants from across the country, assured of the Ministryโs continuous support and wished them well in their deliberations.
The Secretary of the Committee, Mr. Sulayman Dawodu, while giving his remarks explained that the ACJMC was positioned to be the custodian/implementer of (ACJA) 2015, which includes amongst others ensuring effective application of the ACT so as to ensure speedy and effective dispensation of criminal justice..
โโThe essence of the conference is to share knowledge and experience in practical ways on the implementation of ACJA/ACJL across the country, with a view to giving life and purposeful meaning to these laudable provisions in ACJA/ACJL and showcase the activities/programmes that the ACJMC in FCT and states have been doing which would in turn create a network for all ACJMC states towards enhancing their capacitiesโ.
There were also goodwill messages from development partners; GIZ International and MacArthur Foundation.
Members of the Committee were drawn from Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (HAGF), Office of the Chief Justice of FCT, Office of the Chief Judge of High Court, Office of the Inspector-General of Police, Office of the Controller-General of Correctional Centres, Legal Aid Council, Directorate of State Service and amongst others.
