Follow Us on Google
From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
The Attorney General of Imo State and Commissioner for Justice Paul Obinatu has called for the strict implementation of the Section 18 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law in the state.
Obinatu, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Justice, Gloria Egwuagu, made the call, on Monday, during a 2-day workshop on Capacity Strengthening for Policing/Law Enforcement and Judicial Stakeholders on the Administration of Criminal Justice Law in Imo State, organised by Cleen Foundation.
The workshop hosted stakeholders from the judiciary, Nigeria Police, Correctional Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Civil Society Organisations(CSOs)
The Attorney General noted that the section provides that if a person arrested volunteers to make a confessional statement, the police shall ensure that the taking of such statement is recorded on video or made in writing in the presence of a private legal practitioner or any other person of the arrested person’s choice.
Obinatu noted that non-compliance with this section makes it difficult for the statement to stand legal interrogation.
He described ACJL as the bedrock of justice administration and urged all stakeholders to always comply with all the provisions of the law.
In his remarks, the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Aboki Danjuma, said such workshop was long overdue.
CP Danjuma, represented by Peter Agbo, stated that the outcome of the gathering would strengthen the synergy between the Police, Correctional Service and judiciary.
Comptroller of Correctional Service in the state, Michael Okorie, submitted that a better implementation of the ACJL will help to decongest the correctional centre.
Earlier in his address, acting Executive Director of Cleen Foundation, Peter Maduoma, said 12 states across the nation were selected for the workshop.
“This workshop is designed to deepen the technical understanding, bridge knowledge gaps, strengthen collaboration, and equip stakeholders with practical tools to operationalise the application of the ACJL across key institutions responsible for criminal justice delivery.
“The objectives are to enhance technical capacity to interpret and operationalise key provisions of the Imo State ACJL and any recent amendments, build inter-agency frameworks for consistent and rights-complaint application of the law and develop actionable strategies to address systemic challenges such as trial delays, custodial congestion, and rights violations”, he maintained.
