The Chief Judge of Niger State, Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik, has observed that the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) 2023 in Niger State will promote and ensure efficient management of criminal justice institutions in Niger State.
She further noted that it will ensure the speedy dispensation of justice and the protection of the rights and interests of the suspects, the defendant, and the victim.
Addressing participants at a two-day workshop on effective implementation of the Niger State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, held at the Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi Conference Centre in Minna on Tuesday, she stated that the law has introduced a number of innovations aimed at improving the enforcement of human rights, thereby curtailing prolonged trials in the courts.
According to the chief judge, it was revolutionary, and if properly implemented, it will enhance the criminal justice system in the state. She added that the provisions of the law revealed that there was a conscious effort to reduce delays in the criminal justice system.
"For instance, Section 228 introduced the remand protocol to curb excessive and prolonged detentions; this will greatly reduce the number of people awaiting trials in our custodial centres.
Other innovations, according to the Chief Judge, included "the introduction of professional bondsmen, plea bargain suspended sentences, visitation of the Magistrate to detention centres, the establishment of an administration of justice law monitoring team, the maintenance of the bail register, and even the procedures for the interrogation of suspects, among others", she asserted.
Justice Halima also explained that the essence of the workshop was to highlight those innovative provisions and identify possible impediments in the law, adding that the resource persons have both the requisite knowledge and experience to do justice to the theme of the workshop.
"We hereby profoundly appreciate the resource persons for their magnanimity in imparting their knowledge and sharing their experiences, " she said.
Speaking earlier, the acting Chief Registrar of the Niger State High Court, Alhaji Hassan Mohammed, commended the Chief Judge for organising the workshop for magistrates and all other critical stakeholders in the administration of justice in Niger State.
He described the workshop as timely, urging the participants to open their minds and hearts to new ideas "as we come together to learn the innovative provisions of the Niger State Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2023 and to share knowledge.
He then admonished the participants to pay adequate attention to the resource persons who will deliver various papers and make proper use of the knowledge acquired from the papers.