To enhance dispensation of justice, a Non-governmental Organisation (NGO) saddled with the responsibility of promoting public safety, security and access to justice known as CLEEN foundation has called on stakeholders in Bauchi state, particularly in the justice sector, to executive their mandate in a professional, transparent and just manner.
Mr Gad Peter, the Executive Director of CLEEN Foundation stated this during a two day training of trainers’ capacity building on criminal legislations, organised by CLEEN Foundation, held at the Chartwell hotel and suites in Bauchi.
Stakeholders at the training cut across the police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), judiciary, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Correctional Service, media, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) among other agencies in the justice sector of the state.
Peter noted that the objective of the training was to bring to attention of the stakeholders, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act(ACJA) in Nigeria in order for them to be abreast with the provisions of the law and have a positive response towards the implementation of the law, particularly for the good of the citizens in the state.
He said that compliance and implementation of the provisions of the ACJA as found in section 1 of the act was imperative as it promotes efficient management of criminal justice institutions, provides speedy dispensation of justice, protects the society from crime while defending the rights and interest of defendants and victims.
Peter said, “The ACJA preserves the existing criminal procedures, but contains new and innovative provision that are tailored to improve on the obvious flaws of the old legislations, introduce aspects that will enhance the efficiency and efficacy of the criminal justice system and finally bring out justice system in line with the dictates of international best practices in dealing with suspects and the protection of their rights as accused persons”
“As you already know, the Act has reformed the process of arrest under section 10 sub-section 1 of the repealed Criminal Procedure Act, the police could arrest without a warrant any person who has no ostensible means of sustenance and who cannot give a satisfactory account of himself. Given its vagueness, it is not surprising that this particular provision became an instrument of great abuse as a ground to arrest people indiscriminately. The ACJA has now deleted this provision ” he said
Speaking on the five key innovations of the administration of the criminal justice law in Bauchi state, December 2022, at the training, a legal practitioner and partner with the CLEEN Foundation, Barrister Patience Ayuba, said one of the key provision of the law states only officers of the same sex are permitted to search bodies of suspects, adding that only a female officer is permitted to search a female suspect.
“The ACJA has also provided that during the cause of the trial of a criminal, the prosecutor and defense counsel cannot take more than five adjournments throughout the period of the trial and period between the adjournments cannot be more than fourteen days. The Act has also provided that the police in each state must provide an offenders register which was absent at the former criminal procedure court.
“Also, in the Act, a female can stand as a surety for a suspect in the case of a bail unlike what we had before where women were not allowed to stand as surety for suspects, this is a great improvement towards achieving gender equality in the state and Nigeria as a whole. The Act also mandate police officers to treat suspects in a dignified manner and not treat such a suspect of being convicted of the crime and it also states that the police must inform the suspect why he is being arrested” she said
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