The Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee has expressed concern that the Nigerian police divisions and law enforcement agencies in the nation’s capital are yet to comply with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 (ACJA).
The Secretary of ACJA’s Committee, Sulayman Kuku-Dawodu disclosed this at the FCT-Abuja Quarterly working group meeting which was organized by CLEEN foundation and the African Network for Economic Justice (ANEEJ).
According to him, part of the committee mandate as far as ACJA is concerned is to monitor faults in the criminal justice system, corruption cases and non- corruption cases in the country.
Speaking further, Dawodu reiterated the need for the Attorney-General office to be abreast with detailed information of those who are arrested with or without warrants and those that are being prosecuted on monthly and daily basis.
He said, “There is a lacuna in the Attorney General office
In terms of getting information of those who are arrested with or without warrants and those that are being prosecuted on monthly and daily basis.
“This will create accountability in the criminal justice system as well as create a clear picture of who were arrested and know the nature of their offence, he added,”
On the monthly assessment exercise that the committee was saddled with and possible collaborations, he told newsmen that the exercise is being carried out via awareness and direct engagements.
He continued, “The law expects that all these are documented in a soft copy so that we can have the basic information.
“We are also making arrangements with COTRICO as the final states to intervene with all the institutions in order to deal with the challenges “
While expressing regret over alleged perpetual injunctions that have characterized most corruption cases in Akwa-Ibom, Rivers and Delta states, he decried a situation where it has now become difficult to deal with their cases in any Federal Courts.
Shedding more light on the task at hand, a researcher with ANEEJ, Bar Itokpa Henry Paul described the meeting of stakeholders in the administration of criminal justice as that which borders solely on the implementation of ACJA.
While urging the judiciary to help fast track court processes and instil discipline in the judiciary, he appealed to the judicial arm of government to curb unnecessary court proceedings and also ensure that judges who are accused of misconduct are properly tried in the court.
