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A section of participants at the workshop
By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
The Chief Registrar of Bauchi State High Court, Barrister Emmanuel Sublim has attributed the spate of insecurity being experienced in the country as a result of the poor implementation of the administration of criminal Justice law.
The assertion was made by the Chief Registrar while speaking at a one-day workshop on Strengthening Effective Implementation of Administration of Criminal Justice Act/Law by Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee Federal held in Bauchi on Thursday.
He also said that the administration of criminal Justice law in Bauchi state came into existence in the year 2018 and was assented into law by the last administration.
The Chief also said that in the year 2021, the administration of Governor Senator Bala Mohammed inaugurated the administration of criminal Justice monitoring committee, adding that the state is yet to implement the assented law.
According to the Chief Registrar, “Having gone through the law that is already in place, we discovered that there are many aspect of the law that is not applicable to Bauchi state, it is of this that we embarked on a draft amendment of the law.So, this workshop is meant to discuss the draft, so that if it is agreed by stakeholders that the draft is okay, then, it will be forwarded to the state house of assembly for consideration”.
Speaking earlier, Executive Secretary, Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC) Federal, Sulayman Dawodu observed that the responsibility for upholding and progressing the objectives of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act/Administration of ACJA/ACIL clearly rests on all criminal justice stakeholders, especially the ACJMC/ISRT members.
Consequently, the importance of strategizing through synergy and sharing information, knowledge and skills cannot be over emphasized if the objective must be achieved.
The Executive Secretary said that, “the recognition of these cross-cutting challenges is the stimulus required to energize us to discharge our responsibilities dutifully and passionately with the hope that our names will be emblazoned in the annals of history as champion of criminal justice reforms in the country”.
He explained that the Committee was in Bauchi to strengthen the existing relationship and partnership with Bauchi state in the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act/Law in collaboration with the Federal ACIMC.
According to him, “We are happy to confirm that Bauchi is the ninth State of our implementing the MacArthur Foundation supported project of strengthening ACIMC/JSRT at State level. We are also delighted that Bauchi participated actively at the recently concluded National Conference of ACJMC/JSRT in Abuja where knowledge and experience were shared by delegates across the country”.
Suleiman Dawodu added that, “the various activities to be carried out under the project include technical and logistical support to various emerging ACIMC/JSRT acros the country” .
He explained that it will involve convening of technical workshops within the 3-year project; exchange of knowledge and information; deploymen of Portal for information sharing: convening of Annual Conference a ACIMC/ISRT, the maiden one was successfully, delivered in Abuja November 2021.
The project will also cover the provision of equipmen to the emerging secretariats of States who have passed ACJL an inaugurated ACJMC/JSRT.:
“We are grateful to the MacArthur Foundation for this opportunity an Filling the vacuum created by our respective governments that have ignored or relegated the development of criminal justice system to the background, leading to the current state of insecurity, corruption in the land, perennial congestion of our detention and correctional facilities and courts.
He said that, “We recognize the provision of the ACJMC (Monitoring Committee) in the Bauchi ACL and we are delighted about this inclusion because it gives the necessary distinction between the workings and operations of the CMC and other similar bodies like the JSRT which is very necessary for the overall implementation of the ACIL in Bauchi State.
“We have noted the recent efforts in amending the ACIL to meet the minimum standards desired nationally. We shall have the opportunity of contributing to its enrichment at this workshop”, he said.
Suleiman Dawodu stressed that, “it is not in doubt that there will be challenges ahead in the implementation of the law, however, where the will is strong and commitment reassuring, there is huge likelihood of overcoming these challenges.
“It is on the basis of this reality, that synergy and sharing of resources, knowledge and information is necessary towards achieving the desired objectives. ACIMC Federal is committed towards supporting Bauchi and other emerging States to achieve remarkable landmark success stories by the special grace of God”, he assured.
