The Borno State Chief Judge, Justice Kashim Zannah has solicited support and cooperation of Stakeholders to ‘review and revalidate’ penal code laws of 1994 and criminal procedures. According to him, the review was to change from the primitive to international best practices for speedy dispensation of justice in the state. While announcing the review; Wednesday in Maiduguri at a three-day joint validation workshop with British Council on justice reforms, he disclosed: “To improve and reposition the criminal justice system in the state; all hands must be on deck for better justice delivery.” He said the justice system affected by the 12-year Boko Haram insurgency was inevitable to be reviewed. The Justice Review Team (JRT), Justice Haruna Mshelia said the workshop participants include the Police, Correctional Service, Judiciary, Ministry of Justice, Civil Society Organizations, the Media among to review justice system in the state. He said in view of the role and dynamism of law in the society, a committee was inaugurated for review of two laws. “We’ve commenced work by creating sub-committee to review some principal laws affecting administration of justice,” he said, noting that sadly, as the sub-committee work progressed, the COVID-19 pandemic struck. According to him, the two-year pandemic has slowed down committee’s activities to review the justice system. He said the committee members have the drafts of the penal code law and criminal procedure law for evaluation before validations. He added that the justice review committee is under the programme tagged: “Managing Conflict in Nigeria” to pilot the validation process of the two laws. He noted that the stakeholders’ workshop was to facilitate the update of the draft in terms of draftsmanship technical know-how and retreat for committee members. “The clamour for reforms in justice system was triggered by the unnecessary delays in the trial process, prison congestions and dockets of Court with resultant implication on citizens’ constitutional rights,” he said. He said in addressing these ills, the federal government promulgated the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act 2015. Continuing, he added:
“That singular act, witnessed a mounted pressure on states to review their criminal justice laws in line with the Act. “The workshop is to give stakeholders, the opportunity to have an insight into the draft laws with the view to understanding it. “You’re to make inputs in areas that borders on their mandate and have a critical analysis and harmonization in the justice system.” The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, who was represented by the acting Solicitor General, Abdullahi Hussaini pledged for full support to ensure better justice system in the state. The National Programme Manager for Managing Conflict in Nigeria (MCN), Prof. Muhammed Tabiu, represented by Dr. Ukoha Ukinwo, said: “MCN is a partner to support Nigerians with conflict resolution, at both the state and community level,” noting that the support was to focus on reducing violence, promoting stability and to strengthen resilience. According to him, Nigerians will feel more safe and secure in their respective communities.
