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Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, yesterday, said the state ranked first among states in the country in Criminal Justice Reforms (CJR) by the Abuja-based Centre for Socio-Legal Studies.
•Delta Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori (3rd right); his deputy, Monday Onyeme (3rd left); the Secretary to the State Government, Kingsley Emu (1st right); Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Kelly Penawou (1st left); Commissioner for Information, Ifeanyi Osuoza (2nd left), and Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ekemejero Ohwovoriole (2nd right), after their swearing-in as commissioners in Asaba, yesterday.
Governor Oborevwori said the state achieved the feat following the passage of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2022, and Administration of Civil Justice Law, 2022 by the state House of Assembly under his leadership as speaker.
Oborevwori stated this in his remarks during the swearing-in of three newly appointed commissioners in Asaba, the state capital.
The new commissioners are Ekemejero Ohwovoriole, attorney general and commissioner for justice; Ifeanyi Michael Osuoza, commissioner for information, and Kelly Kalanama Penawou, commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs.
He described Ohwovoriole as a brilliant and capable lawyer schooled in the best traditions of legal practice.
“Deep, driven, and devoted to his craft, Ohwovoriole brings to the office almost 30 years of distinguished service at the Bar,” he said.
He challenged the new attorney general to sustain the state’s pace setter role in CJR, adding that state’s criminal justice laws are adjudged widely to be 21st century-compliant, especially with recourse to technology.
“The transition period of both laws ended on December 22, 2023. So, both laws are now operational in all courts in Delta State.
“The rigorous and successful implementation of these laws is, therefore, imperative for Delta State to maintain its leadership position.
“Only recently, attorneys general of the South East states adopted the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2022 as their model, hailing it as “a unique framework for the administration of criminal justice.”
Oborevwori further said Osuoza is a tested hand and avid communicator in the field of political communication and information management, having served meritoriously as the PDP state publicity secretary in the last eight years.
“His appointment as information commissioner is thoroughly well-deserved. Osuoza, popularly known as Agenda, is a committed PDP member, humble leader, avid communicator, and relentless public commentator.
“It is my earnest expectation that he will take the government’s information management machinery to a whole new level. I expect creativity and innovation in government communication in a way that ensures optimal, fact-based projection of the policies, programmes, achievements, and activities of the government.
“One major shift I will like to see in the information ministry is for it to go beyond the information arena and engage in positive citizen engagement and mobilisation.
“It is my considered view that stakeholder perception audits must be integral to the operations of the information ministry.
“It should serve in the best traditions as a sensor, gathering intelligence and inputs from the citizenry that would form the basis of the policies and programmes of the government.”
Governor Oborevwori said Penawou is a grassroots politician of immense stature with extensive experience in local government administration.
He said he expects nothing but excellence and exemplary performance from him, having served as special adviser on local government affairs in the immediate past administration.
He charged the commissioners to lead by example by being role models in their respective ministries.
