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Enugu State Working Group meets, calls for proper implementation of ACJA 2015
... Working group is coordinated by WINET in collaboration with CLEEN Foundation and sponsored by MacArthur Foundation
BY: Ikenna Oluka
The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has called for proper implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and the Enugu State Administration of Justice Criminal Law (AJCL) 2017.
The South East Zonal Head of the Commission, Barr. Amedu Sule made the call at the first quarter 2019 Enugu State Working Group on the implementation of the Act Meeting held in Enugu.
The working group is being coordinated by Women Information Network (WINET) in collaboration with CLEEN Foundation and sponsored by MacArthur Foundation
According to the ICPC Zonal head both the law and the Act are very crucial as they have provisions for speedy trial of criminal cases and enhancement of the judicial process in the country.
He however regretted that some of the provisions were not being implemented in a manner that could lead to the realization of the desired ends, “for instance, the act and the law prohibit arrest in lieu of a suspect, but the practice appears to be persisting due to lack of monitoring” Sule said.
Speaking on the Implementation of ACJA 2015 and Enugu State ACJL 2017-Milestones, Challenges and the Way Forward, the ICPC Zonal boss wondered whether Witness Support Units provided for to take care of expenses of witnesses were in place and funded, stressing that it was not proper for witness to the state in a criminal case to incur personal expenses.
He also faulted provisions of the Act and Law that criminal cases should be heard daily and that fine should be imposed if adjournment was at the instance of the prosecutor.
Mr. Sule argued that daily trial might not be practicable because of lack of facilities in courts for the comfort of Judges while some while some reasons for adjournment might not be the fault of the prosecutor such as in a case of murder where autopsy was required.
He commended the Enugu State government for domesticating ACJA but maintained that something must be done to make the state ACJL to work for the people.
According to him, the government should muster the political will and provide resources to deal with identified challenges while efforts should be made to address the observed lapses in the law.
Similarly, Mr. Innocent Mbachie of the EFCC South East Zonal Office Enugu said some good provisions of ACJA and Enugu State ACJL were observed more in breach than compliance.
They include the prohibition of violence, intimidation and harassment of suspects, recording of evidence on camera where the suspect did not come with a relative, loved one or counsel.
A representative of the Registrar Enugu State High Court, Mr. Osondu Chukwuani said most of the challenges were embedded in the Nigerian system and financial deficit.
He stated that Witness Support Center inaugurated in Enugu State four years ago had not been functioning because of lack of funds while light had been a huge problem in the in courts especially those outside the cities.
Mr. Chukwuani who is Deputy Chief Registrar 1 however said that Enugu State Government was doing all it could to see that the law was implemented for the benefit of the people with the Chief Judge providing fifty thousand naira to power electricity generating sets in the rural areas.
He called for more financial intervention from the government, corporate and non-governmental organizations as well as individuals to enhance the administration of criminal justice in the state.
The Chair of the meeting and representative of the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Chief Magistrate Jude Achi-Kanu commended the organizers of the meeting noting that such was essential for the administration of criminal justice law.
He stressed that the groups focus on computerization of court judgments, promotion of accountability and transparency in the judiciary was commendable as they were key issues in achieving the desired results.
Mr. Achi-Kanu expressed the hope that as the implementation of the law in Enugu state progresses, identified lapses would be corrected and called for the involvement of the police and prisons officials and other relevant stakeholders in future discussions on the way forward.
Earlier the Executive Director of Women Information Network (WINET) and facilitator of the meeting Mrs. Miriam Menkiti explained that ACJA 2015 and Enugu State ACJL 2017 working group was committed to ensuring proper implementation of the Act and Law through the promotion of accountability and transparency in the judicial system.
The meeting attended by representative of EFCC, ICPC, NYSC, FIDA, Legal Aid Council and AFRILAW among others identified other challenges facing ACJA and ACJL to include lack of vehicles to convey suspects to courts, bribery and corruption within the prison system, the police and the judiciary.
The participants therefore advocated that Human Rights Commission, the Legal Aid Council and lawyers should be represented in police stations while Magistrates should visit prisons regularly and have powers to grant bail to criminal suspects.
The Enugu State government has inaugurated a steering committee to eliminate Gender-Based Violence, GBV, in the state, declaring zero tolerance for the social malaise.
The inauguration took place at the Government House Enugu.
The panel, which is chaired by the Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, draws its membership from the Nigeria Police Force, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro Industrialisation, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ministry of Human Development and Poverty Reduction, Ministry of Trade, Investment and Industry, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education as well as the Civil Society.
Inaugurating the panel known as the Steering Committee for Strengthening Institutional and Community Responses to End Gender-Based Violence/Domestication of Enugu State Gender Policy using the Oputa Panel approach, Governor Peter Mbah restated his administration’s commitment to not bringing perpetrators of GBV to book, but also putting in place proactive measures – activities, infrastructure, and systems in place to prevent them.
Mbah, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said, “We take gender-based violence seriously. We have zero tolerance for it, and in Enugu State, we are ready to go the extra mile to deal with it.
“If you notice, the government has selected people that are very committed to this goal. This is not an activity where we just want to check-off the list. We will track this. We will monitor this, and we will have quarterly engagements on the successes that this particular committee has achieved in terms of reference that we are going to send.
“We will tighten those terms of reference indicators, so that we monitor what we are doing both in terms of cost input and the value added. It’s very important to us. Many people will be involved – civil society, the police and various ministries.”
He however, said that the effort was to protect everyone, men and women alike, as GBV was not restricted to any gender.
“The whole idea is to hold people responsible that are involved in matters relating to gender violence and deter people that by culture or by association get involved in that, protect women, protect our children, and in the case of violence against men, protect our men because most times we misconstrue gender violence to mean women, but it can also be men too.
“We encourage our men to speak out and to make sure they understand that the policy that Enugu State is soon going to domesticate is for everyone, and not only for the female gender,” he stated.
In her remark, Mrs. Enih, explained that the Oputa Panel approach was inspired by the need to cover all local peculiarities in domesticating the policy on GBV, restarting government’s confidence in the members of the panel.
“The approach we are going to use is the Oputa Panel approach, and in the Oputa Panel approach, we are going to tour the 17 Local Government Areas to get firsthand information about what our people are going through because policy is meant for the people, and a policy should suit the people.
“Again, every community has its peculiar problems, so that’s why the government decided that if we have to domesticate the gender policy, we have to hear from the people who own the policy and know the changes that they desire to see. That is the reason we are using this approach.
“The committee members are to also serve as judges. As we gather this information from our people, we will come back to tailor it in a way to suit the people of Enugu State, and then our policy is ready.
“We want the people to know that there is a gender policy for them. I can assure you that when the people are aware that there is such a policy, they will seek for the enforcement of that policy. So, this is not going to be one of those policies that will just lie on the shelf,” she said.
Digital solutions provider, Globacom, has congratulated Christians in Nigeria on this year’s Easter celebration, and urged them to emulate the noble qualities of Jesus Christ.
The company, in a goodwill message to the Christian faithful in the country, lauded their perseverance through the Lenten period which preceded Easter. It enjoined them to always promote the ideals of selflessness, love and peace among all as a way of demonstrating the virtues of the exemplary life of Jesus Christ.
“Peace, love and sacrifice are the central message of Easter. Christ offered himself in atonement for the sins of the world and he lived a life which made Him an eternal symbol of peace and goodwill for mankind”, Globacom added.
The company enjoined all Nigerians to share in the lessons of promoting selflessness, a necessary ingredient in the growth and development of every society. It also enjoined all Nigerians to join hands to make Nigeria a better place for all.
Easter is celebrated yearly at the end of the Lenten season of fasting and prayer considered as a ritual of purification for the Christian faithful. It also precedes the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ on Good Friday and His eventual resurrection on Easter Sunday.
The company assured its customers of seamless voice, data and Short Messaging Service (SMS) during and after the Easter celebrations, while urging them to avail themselves of the various data and voice offerings on the network.
The Guild of Private Broadcast Managers has extended its heartfelt congratulations to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) as it celebrates its 70th Anniversary.
In a congratulatory message signed by the Guild’s National President, Ambassador Patrick Uzoyi-Peters, JP MNGRM, the guild described the milestone as a testament to the NUJ’s unwavering commitment to upholding press freedom, journalistic integrity, and the advancement of democracy in Nigeria.
“For seven decades, the NUJ has played a pivotal role in shaping the media landscape, advocating for the rights and welfare of journalists, and ensuring that the voice of the people remains strong and unyielding. Your resilience, professionalism, and dedication to ethical journalism have been instrumental in fostering transparency, accountability, and national development”.
Celebrating this historic achievement, the Guild’s President, Uzoyi-Peters recognized the sacrifices and contributions of journalists across the nation who work tirelessly to inform, educate, and empower society.
The Guild reiterated it commitment towards collaborating with the NUJ in promoting responsible journalism and strengthening the media industry for the greater good.
While wishing the NUJ continued success, growth, and greater impact in the years ahead, President Uzoyi-Peters prayed that the anniversary serve as a renewed call to uphold the principles of truth, fairness, and press freedom in our collective pursuit of a more informed and just society.
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