Follow Us on Google
From Olanrewaju Lawal Birnin Kebbi
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in partnership with Macarthur foundation alongside Stakeholders in Judiciary as well as security agencies have sought for adoption of reformative approach on the implementation of Administration of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act(ACJC) Laws in Kebbi State.
It could be recalled that,the the Laws was passed in Kebbi State in 2021 with the objectives of ensuring efficient management of criminal cases.
While speaking at the two days capacity building workshop on the assessment of the implementation of ACJC since 2021, it’s successes and challenges in Birnin Kebbi,NBA National President,Yakubu.C Maiyau, explained that not all the offenders should be reminded in prisons.
NBA President, represented by the National Publicity Secretary of the association,Habibu Lawal noted there is need for reformative justice instead of retributive justice.
“The point we are making here is that,at this moment,the world is moving towards reformative Justice. Reformative justice ensure that we acknowledged all offences,but we don’t punish all of them with retribution and that is the point I am trying to make.
‘Everything is not about punishment at time. There is adage which says :,we don’t go to Court, come back and remained friends’. If I did something wrong to you,you took me to Court and get convicted. If regain my freedom, my family and generations to come will not ba happy with you.
“Therefore,for some petty offences, that do not attract capital punishment, there should be a way the parties involved could dialogue so that both the victims and offenders could get justice. If we continue to take all thieves to the prison,our Correctional Centers will become congested. There should be a way to reform the offenders and reintegrated them to the society”.
He added that accused persons could be convicted but necessary remanded in prison once their offences wer not attracting capital punishment.
The Chief Judge of Kebbi State, Justice Umar Abubakar, represented by Justice Sabiu Bala Shuaibu declared the workshop open.
Earlier, in his remark,Chairman of NBA, Birnin Kebbi branch,Lawal Hudu Garba, recalled that, the Kebbi State Administration of Criminal Justice Law has been passed since 2021 with the sole objective of ensuring that the system of administration of Criminal Justice promotes efficient management of criminal cases.
According to him, “indisputably, the law is a progressive piece of legislation; it contains innovative and revolutionary provisions aimed at promoting easy access to and quick dispensation of justice in Kebbi State
“The law having been in operation for three years now,there arise the need to review it’s implementation with a view to ascertain it’s successes and challenges “.
Garba recalled that, the Nigeria Police used criminal registry manually,with no record of arrests sent to Attorney Generals, stressed that electronic recording of statement of the suspects were introduced by using phones.
He also noted that, the police were not involved the Ministry of Justice in their investigation, legal advice normally issued within 2-3 days after receipt of the duplicate case dairy while seldom had it taken for a week or weeks.
Garba said, in the report he made in 2023, on the need to review ACJL in Kebbi State,he noted that Courts lacked electronics facilities, CJ monitoring committee established but have no budget,no Secretariat.
“As I concluded my report, I made a critical observation that without corresponding funding,there would be no way that implementation of ACJL be achievable. I will hold the same opinion”.
