Stakeholders brainstorm on application of Nasarawa State Administration of Criminal Justice Law

Review

By Sunday John

Lafia, March 17, 2020 (NAN) Stakeholders in Nasarawa on Tuesday in Lafia, brainstormed on application of  the newly signed Administration of Criminal Justice Law enacted to ensure quick dispensation of justice in the state.

The stakeholders who gave out suggestions on the prospects and challenges facing the criminal justice administration, said some stakeholders were violating the law by their actions thereby affecting the dispensation of justice.

Justice Suleiman Dikko, Chief Judge (CJ) of Nasarawa State said he had issued practice directions to judges of lower courts, but noted that some by their actions, were doing things contrary to the directive and the law.

He said that some magistrates, contrary to the law and the directive, turned civil matters to criminal cases just to send the accused persons to the custordial centre.

Dikko called on all stakeholders in the administration of justice to always ensure the law was followed in dispensing justice to justify that the court was indeed the last hope of the common man.

The CJ said that the management of the judiciary in the state would continue to ensure that judges, especially of lower courts always adhered to provisions of the law.

On his part, Mr Shikammah Sheltu, Chairman, Lafia Branch of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), raised concern that sometimes the electronic evidence presented by the police before the court was misleading.

Sheltu said that most times, the police tortured suspects to give statements under duress, but claimed that the suspects made such statements voluntarily.

“They will torture the suspect, force him to make statement and take him to a different room to record him to give impression that it was voluntary,” the NBA Chairman alleged.

He called on the judges to scrutinise such electronic evidence and ensure that the police proved that it was given voluntarily before deciding on it in the interest of justice.

Similarly, Mr Yahaya Shafa, representative of the Magistrate Association of Nigeria, expressed delight with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law.

Shafa said the law stipulated that a warrant could be issued any day, including public holidays and had empowered a judge to order for the arrest of a suspect who committed such offence in their presence.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the one-day workshop had in attendance the State Comptroller of Correctional Service, Emmanuel Okoro, and representatives of  Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, Human Rights of Nigeria, the Police, and judges among others.

NAN recalls that Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State on Feb. 26 signed into law the Administration of Criminal Justice Law. (NAN).

SDJ/ORO/IU

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Edited by Razak Owolabi and Isaac Ukpoju