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Enugu State police Commissioner holds Working Group on transparent justice system; says proxy arrest unlawful
BY: Ikenna Oluka
- Suleiman Balarabe hosts Working Group on Promoting Accountability and Transparency in the Administration of Criminal Justice
- Says ACJA and ACJL meant to remove delays in administration of justice
- Recommends the upgrading of facilities at detention centers in the country
The Commissioner of Police Enugu State Command Suleiman Balarabe says proxy arrest is unlawful as there is no provision in the nation’s laws that permits the arrest someone in place of another.
According to him, everyone who has committed a crime is expected to answer for his or her own actions.
CP Balarabe said that the practice of proxy arrest had been stopped in Enugu State since he assumed duties.
The CP was speaking today during an advocacy visit to him by Enugu State Working Group on the project Promoting Accountability and Transparency in the Administration of Criminal Justice in Nigeria, a project by CLEEN Foundation with support from MacArthur Foundation.
CP Suleiman Balarabe explained that in line with the provisions of Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and Enugu State Administration of Criminal Justice law 2017, once the conditions of bail are met, a man or woman is allowed to take a person or an accused on bail, emphasizing that gender is not a condition for allowing people to take accused persons on bail.
He said that ACJA and ACJL are meant to remove delays in administration of justice, noting that the Police is doing its best to ensure the implementation of the Act and law.
He said that the police focus on criminal cases and does not venture into civil cases.
Speaking on provisions of Section 35 of Enugu State ACJL, the Commissioner of Police Suleiman Balarabe said that Magistrates were free to visit police stations, as there was nothing to hide and because such a visit would be in the interest of the society at large.
On the challenges in the implementation of ACJA and Enugu State ACJL, CP Balarabe said that those controlling the resources should look at those things hindering investigation and prosecution of cases and allocate adequate resources to them.
He called for provision of equipment such as wireless or solar powered CCTV, so that the country could move to digital way of administering justice.
The Police Commissioner also said that there is witness protection in some advanced countries so as not to endanger them after giving witness, as he said that some people shy away from appearing as witnesses in court so as not to endanger their lives.
He recommended the upgrading of facilities at detention centers in the country.
Earlier, the Executive Director Women Information Network (WINET), Mrs. Miriam Menkiti who led working group members on the visit stated that the working group was set up to monitor and follow up the implementation ACJA and Enugu State ACJL.by key stakeholders.
She said the project Promoting Accountability and Transparency in the Criminal Justice in Nigeria seeks to use technology through digitalization of court judgements in Nigeria to promote accountability and transparency in the fight against corruption.
Mrs. Menkiti said that Women Information Network (WINET) and African Law Foundation (AFRILAW) are implementing the project in Enugu State with support from CLEEN Foundation and MacArthur Foundation.
Other members of the working group on the visit are representatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Enugu State, Prisoners Welfare Rehabilitation (PRAWA), National Youth Service Corps, AFRILAW, WINET and some media organizations.
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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