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From Abel Leonard, Lafia
The Law Hub Development and Advocacy Centre (LHDAC) has launched a commendable initiative to advance the Advocacy of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) in Nigeria, with a primary focus on Nasarawa State. The organization aims to bolster the dissemination, comprehension, and acceptance of the laws to ensure their effective implementation within the project states.
Mr Osita Chukwuma, the Director of LHDAC, emphasized the urgent need to address the insufficient understanding of the provisions and purpose of the laws as the root cause of poor execution of Criminal Justice.
Mr Chukwuma affirmed that this progressive approach upholds the dignity of every individual involved in the justice system.
Daily Sun reports that the project, generously funded by the MacArthur Foundation, aspires to strengthen Nigeria’s criminal justice system by fostering a deeper appreciation of the provisions of the ACJLs in the 12 states. Additionally, the initiative seeks to popularize and disseminate the ACJLs while setting a standard for their review and improvement.
To combat this, he said the organization conducted a one-day capacity training on the Nasarawa State Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2018 in Lafia, seeking to bridge the knowledge gap.
Speaking at the training event, On Capacity Building of Criminal Justice Stakeholders on the provision of ACJLs at Nasarawa state held at Ta’al Conference Hotel, Lafia, Nasarawa state capital, Mr Joshua Gbenga, the consultant of LHDAC, stressed the vital role of all stakeholders in the process. He highlighted the need for both the demand and supply sides to actively participate in enforcing the laws.
An informed populace, he argued, plays a crucial role in demanding adherence to laws from duty-bearers and holding them accountable when necessary.
He said the LHDAC has undertaken the critical task of implementing the MacArthur On Nigeria 2.0. project in 12 states, including Nasarawa. “The states involved are Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Delta, Enugu, Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Lagos, Oyo, and Nasarawa.”
Gbenga further said the overarching objective of the ACJA is to establish a criminal justice system that promotes the effective management of institutions, expedites legal proceedings, and safeguards the rights and interests of suspects, defendants, and victims.
In a bid to ensure the smooth and timely administration of criminal justice, the Chief Justice of Nasarawa State, Aisha Bashir Aliyu, urged collaboration between the police, other security agencies, and the judiciary. She appealed to magistrates to avoid indiscriminate remand of accused persons, especially those with minor cases and encouraged them to consider granting bail where appropriate to alleviate pressure on Correctional centres.
The Controller of the Correctional Centre in Nasarawa State, Ibrahim Yanusa Adda, and the Commissioner of Police, Mayaiki Baba Muhammad, represented by the Assistant Commissioner Legal, Aliyu Asku Danjuma, all echoed the call for collaboration with relevant stakeholders and agencies. Their collective efforts aim to streamline the administration of criminal justice for the benefit of society as a whole.
