By Samuel Luka
Bauchi state Stakeholders in the criminal justice system have called for increased budgetary allocation to ensure effective oversight, monitoring and implementation of Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) in Nigeria.
The stakeholders made this known during the opening ceremony of a two-day workshop organized in Bauchi by a MacArthur's supported Non-governmental organization known as CLEEN Foundation on Wednesday.
Speaking to newsmen, Maigari Sani Isa, Senior Magistrate, Bauchi state Judiciary said the judiciary in the state is doing very well in terms of ACJL implementation and compliance through the provision of adequate manpower, stressing that the essence of justice system is to have speedy justice delivery.
He also disclosed that recently, the Chief Judge of Bauchi appointed about nine magistrates as part of effort to inject additional manpower into the courts.
Isa who acknowledged seemless process in the administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) in Bauchi state, also advocated for improved funding for Nigeria's critical stakeholders, including the judiciary.
According to him, the improved funding should be such that it can provide adequate welfare for the judicial staff to see how it can manage some of the new innovations that came with the ACJL, especially the aspect of the non-custodian sentencing.
Also speaking, the Director Public Prosecution (DPP) and overseeing Solicitor General/Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice Bauchi, Sha'awanatu Yusuf stressed that the challenges of movement of files from DPP's office to appropriate courts previously have been addressed with the coming of the ACJL.
"The ACJL which became operational in Bauchi precisely December, 2022 has already addressed this problem. Right now it has made it a law that we have like two to three weeks to advise the police after receiving a case file in the ministry, and we are trying our best to comply with that section of the law", she said.
Sha'awanatu who noted that the the challenges the ministry has been facing in the past has been taken care of by the ACJL.
The DPP while stating that a lot of achievements have been recorded by her ministry in terms of compliance to ACJL implementation, observed that funding is one of the challenges that need to be addressed.
"It is now a law that any time we call a witness, we have to bear the expenses, it is a law, we are to pay for the transport and sometimes even for accommodation, depending on where the witness is coming from", she said.
"It is a law now, but how do we get the resources, that's our biggest challenge now. So I believe at the end of this workshop, we will find a solution", Sha'anatu said.
On her part, Yacit Dala, state coordinator, National Human Rights Commission Bauchi recalled that the ACJL which spelled out how the criminal justice institution should carry out their functions to ensure speedy dispensation of justice is meant to promote and protect Human Rights.
"It is also meant to ensure the protection of the society, promotion and protection of the rights of suspects, victims and witnesses and everyone that comes in contact with the law", she said.
According to her, "based on the conversations at the workshop, there has been significant improvement in compliance to ACJL in Bauchi state because of its implementation".
Yacit who attested that the ACJL lessen conflict between the National Human Rights Commission and the security agencies on mode of arrest, detention, abuse of office, among others have reduced, however noted that a lot still need to be done as contained in the findings of CLEEN Foundation.
"Like in the findings of the research, it was stated that the understanding of the ACJL among the police is low, it's really sad because the original document was since 2020 before it was amended", she said.
"We really hope that now that the research has brought it to the forefront, I hope that the necessary agencies that could enhance the capacity of, not just the police but all key stakeholders would come on board to ensure that there is an understanding because the law enforcement agency is the gate way to human rights protection", Yacit disclosed.
"We always tell them that they are the number one human rights defenders, so if the number one human rights defender lacks the understanding of the provision of that law, then it leaves a lot to imagine", she said.
In his welcoming remarks, the Acting Executive Director of the Foundation, Peter Maduoma, said the workshop was meant for the participants to look into the Research findings on the Compliance Level of Actors in the Criminal Justice Act to the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Laws across CLEEN's eight project states.
Represented by Nnamdi Odo, the Ag. Executive Director said that the meeting is expected to take an overview of State capacity to facilitate the effective implementation of ACJL Regime, Consider the Justice Gap and how to close them through State Capacity in the area of good and adequate Budgeting.
According to Maduoma, the workshop will also avail the participants with the opportunity of playing critical role of Strategic Advocacy and Communication as a Tool for Policy Formulation and Change.
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