CLEEN foundation makes case for provision of resource centres

CLEEN Foundation is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) has called for the need to set up legal resource centres across eight states of the country to boost legal research on corruption and financial crime cases.

The foundation said though, Ondo state legal resource centre has been set up and is functional. Four other centres will be set up in October, 2019.

The Executive Director, Dr Benson Olugbuo, said this at the 4th National Working Group meeting on Promotimg Transparency and Accountability in the Administration of Criminal Justice in Nigeria held in Abuja recently.

The meeting was convened under a project centered on “Promoting Accountability and Transparency in the Administration of Criminal Justice System in Nigeria”.

He said the project working groups both at the state and national levels have witnessed robust inputs from a good blend of Stakeholders: Lawyers, Policymakers, Researchers, Civil Society Organizations, law enforcement personnel, Security officials and Experts in the field of justice.

He said the interest for effective and satisfactory justice delivery within our criminal justice sector and all share an important stake in the manner in which the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act, 2015 is implemented.

“Since the inception of the project, 3 National working group meetings have been held to discuss emerging issues from the implementation of the ACJA, 2015 and to proffer realistic solutions to the identified issues.

“The Administration of Criminal Justice Act, (ACJA) 2015 which was enacted as an instrument to enhance the speedy dispensation of justice was not designed to do away with the already existing criminal laws in its entirety, but was designed to preserve and strengthen the existing legal framework by introducing innovative provisions that will ultimately bolster the efficiency of the justice system.

“The new federal legislation has brought fundamental changes to the criminal justice system, as it provides in section 1 of the ACJA, for an administration of criminal justice system which promotes fast tracking of justice delivery, efficient management of criminal justice institutions, protection of citizens as well as protection of the rights and interest of suspects, defendants and victims.

“The objective of the Act may never be attained unless and until all relevant stakeholders in the criminal justice system are aligned to work collaboratively to ensure that the Act is not just implemented but fully complied with by all jutice actors concerned,” he said.

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