Stakeholders in the judiciary sector of the country have called for speedy implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act across the country.

According to them, the act was passed into law and domesticated in 2015 by at least 34 states including Katsina is yet to be implemented,

The Programme Manager of CLEEN Foundation, Chigozirim Okoro, described policing as a collective responsibility from parents to guardians, to school teachers, to community heads, to religious leaders, to security and law enforcement agencies to ensure violence-free Nigeria.

Mrs Okoro who was speaking during a two-day Citizens’ Engagement on Policing Reforms and Accountability of Justice Sector Actors, also presented a paper titled: “Understanding the National Security Strategy, Providing Space for Non-State Actors Engagement”.

“This engagement was for us to know how far we have gone in ensuring the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act to ensure violence-free Nigeria,” she said.

"Policing is a collective responsibility from parents to guardians to school teachers to community heads, religious leaders to security and law enforcement agencies to make the country better”.

The workshop held on Wednesday and Thursday in Katsina State was organised by CLEEN Foundation in collaboration with MacArthur Foundation.

On his part, the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary of the Katsina State Ministry of Justice Muhammad Rafa’i decried some of the factors and attitudes that, according to him, are unavoidable and deter speedy justice dispensation process in the country.

“Even in the course of a trial, there are some challenges, that cause delay. Sometimes, you have witnesses and their addresses, but they may relocate, thus you would not find them again and you need them to prove your case before the court.

“The delay in most cases emanates from different ways as far as stakeholders are concerned. The way out is an investigation of the offence committed and dedication.

“Materials for the investigation are also not available. Families of the complainants have to contribute to the investigation,” he added.

In the meantime, the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Katsina State Chapter, Ibrahim Rafukka, has condemned the unprofessional conduct of security agencies especially the police and the DSS, during the recent #EndBadGovernance protests.

He alleged that during the protests in the state innocent lives and properties worth millions of naira were lost as a result of their attitudes.

“Security personnel must be well trained so that they should stop maltreating civilians,” Rafukka observed.

The highlight of the occasion was the formal presentation of documents to key state actors for action.

Culled from Channels TV