Centre trains members of administration of criminal justice monitoring committee in A’Ibom

Akpan Umoh, Uyo

The Law Hub Development and Advocacy Centre in collaboration with MacArthur Foundation on Friday organised a training workshop for members of Akwa Ibom State Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC).

The workshop aimed at building the capacity of committee members to function efficiently and efficiently and effectively in the administration of justice law in the state.

In his opening remarks, the Executive Director, Law Hub Development and Advocacy Centre, Mr Osita Okoro, said that there was a need for the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee to have a functional secretariat for better operations.

Osita, who was represented by Mr Joshua Dada, Consultant with Law Hub development and advocacy centre urged Akwa Ibom to ensure the establishment of a functional, effective and efficient Secretariat for the delivery of the overall mandate of the ACJMC.

He said, “it is incumbent on the Akwa Ibom State legislature and criminal justice stakeholders to make provisions for the establishment and operation of the ACJMC and its Secretariat to ensure the standards set out above are adopted and implemented in line with the local context of Akwa Ibom state.” 

In his remarks, the Controller, Nigeria Correctional Service, Akwa Ibom Command, Mr Julius Ezugwu, said that about 2, 413 inmates were awaiting trails in the four correctional facilities across the State.

Ezugwu, put the total number of inmates in the four facilities to 2, 854, adding that the custodian centres in the state were congested.

He appealed for the domestication of Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) in the state to help decongest custodial  centres.  

He said the large number of inmates awaiting trial was responsible for the congestion of the centres, stressing that the centres were to be a place to reform convicts and not take care of awaiting trial persons.  

“We have a total of 2, 854 inmates in the four facilities of the command, that is, Uyo, Ikot Ekpene, Eket, and Ikot Abasi, respectively. 

“Out of the total number, we have about 441 convicts and 2, 413 inmates awaiting trials. 

“I want to say that the correctional service has been doing its part creditably and I am happy that this workshop on ACJL will lighten the weight of the correctional service in the state,” Ezugwu said.

In her remarks, the Akwa Ibom Chief Judge, Justice Ekaette Obot said the domestication of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act by the Criminal Justice Law of the state would have a great impact on the criminal justice system in the state. 

Obot, who declared the training workshop open, commended the Centre for organising the training workshop to equip committee members with relevant knowledge to function effectively.

She urged participants to take the training serious, adding that the knowledge acquired from the event would help in the administration of criminal justice in the state. 

Our Correspondent reports that participants at the training workshop were drawn from Ministry of Justice, Nigerian Bar Association, Nigeria Correctional Service, Nigeria Police and Non-Governmental organisations across the state.