The Ogun State government has inaugurated a nine-man committee for criminal justice monitoring in order to ensure that persons awaiting trial are, as far as possible, not detained in prison for a length of time beyond that which is proscribed in section 308, Section 117 (6)(d) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL).
During the inaugural meeting of the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC), held at the Judiciary Complex, Kobape Abeokuta, the Chief Judge, Mosunmola Dipeolu, made the announcement.
She said that the administration of justice is supposed to be well pronounced and substantive with the commission’s inauguration.
Mrs Dipeolu said that Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) was enacted in May 2015, and was meant to bring the Federal Courts up to date in the administration of criminal justice.
She added that the state followed on the third day of April 2018 by enacting its ACJL, stating that the State Judiciary and indeed all concerned parties in the administration of criminal justice have made use of the law in the determination of criminal cases across the state.
Mrs Dipeoplu said the committee ‘s goal was to ensure that the ACJL is implemented effectively and efficiently, noting that the ACJL innovations were laudable and welcome.
However, the Chief Judge said there are too many barriers against the efficient and successful enforcement of the law, imploring the Governor, Dapo Abiodun, to provide the facilities required for the full implementation of the law as it would undoubtedly boost the administration of the criminal justice system.
She urged every member of the Committee to see their inauguration as an appeal for duty and an appeal to serve the citizens of the State and beloved country by further strengthening and strengthening the administration of the State’s criminal justice.
Similarly, the Attorney-General and Justice Commissioner, Akingbolahan Adeniran, said it was imperative to inaugurate the committee to fasten and expedite the administration of justice in the state, noting that the pattern of the existing era of justice would be the thing of the past with the inauguration of the committee.
He said that Section 389(2) of the ACJL specifies that the Attorney-General must give and provide his legal opinion on whether or not there was a prima facie case against the defendant for which he could be charged within 90 days of obtaining the case file from the Police.
Mr Adeniran further stated that Section 396(1) of the ACJL provides that where information has been submitted to the Court, the Chief Judge shall take appropriate measures to ensure that the information submitted has been assigned to the Court for trial within 15 working days of the date of its filling.
Those Inaugurated as Committee members including; the State’s chief judge, Hon. Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, as chairman; Attorney General and Justice Commissioner, Akingbolahan Adeniran as Co-Chairman; the Hon. State judge Ayokunle Rotimi-Balogun, and Kenneth Abrimson, police commissioner.
Others are the Prison Comptroller, Victor Benson; the Chairman, Sagamu branch of the Nigeria Bar Association, Felix Adetoro; the Director of Public Prosecutor’s Office, Ministry of Justice, Segun Olaotan; the Director of Citizens Right Department, Ministry of Justice, Bamidele Adebayo; and the Chairman, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Kemi Osisanya.