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.