…commends ACJA Working Group established by CLEEN Foundation

By Precious Oham

Ekiti State Government says it will continue to  monitor the activities of key actors in the administration of Justice in the state towards ensuring effective implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Ekiti State, Dayo Apata, SAN stated this at the ACJA Working Group Meeting funded by the Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA-Ekiti State branch in collaboration with MacArthur Foundation.

The Attorney General, represented by the Director of Chieftaincy Affairs in the Ministry of Justice, Segun Akinwumi said that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), had brought positive development to criminal justice system, hence it must be adhered to so as to ensure justice for all.

He commended the Working Group, FIDA and all the stakeholders for the implementation of ACJA in Ekiti State adding that they serve as watchdogs towards effective legal system in the society.

His words: “This Working Group is very important to bring about changes. Since the coming of ACJA, it has shaped our law and provided better options and principles that will ensure justice.

“We must act as watchdogs to be able to have an effective legal system in the society. I commend FIDA and everyone of us for all we have done so far.”

On his part, the Officer in Charge of the Legal Department, Ekiti State Police Command CSP Femi Falade said the Police won’t relent in their efforts to educate officers about the principles of the ACJA.

“On our part, we recognise that the administration of criminal justice is also meant to curb some excesses in the enforcement of criminal justice. We are sounding this to our men and we won’t relent.”

In her welcome address, FIDA Ekiti Chairperson, Mrs Oyinade Olatunbosun noted that since MacArthur Foundation came on board in 2019 to support CLEEN Foundation to establish the Working Group in Ekiti State, much success has been achieved in the implementation of ACJA but said a lot still needed to be done, that is why FIDA is supporting the Group, hence she sought the support of other stakeholders in the justice sector to continue to work for the effective implementation of ACJA in the State.

Delivering her report, Rita Izilafe Ilevbare of Gender Relevance Initiative Promotion (GRIP) and Coordinator, Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) Working Group, Ekiti State which is now metamorphosing into
Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee, ACJMC said the Group was established in 2019 by CLEEN Foundation with the Support of MacArthur Foundation in the absence of Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committe (ACJMC) in EKiti State.

According to her the Group swung into action and made remarkable successes which include regular advocacies which led to the amendment of the Ekiti ACJL to establish the ACJMC (See Section 370 Ekiti ACJL, 2022)

She added that the Group was also able to deepen collaboration amongst  justice sector actors, which led to the designation of Magistrates by the Chief Judge to visit detention centers in Ekiti State, designation of lawyers as essentials service providers during COVID-19, this availed citizens of legal services during the lockdown in 2020.

Others are donation of protective materials to the Police  and NSCDC for effective Policing and administration of  criminal justice during the pandemic, online engagement and learning through the Group Whatsapp Platform, strengthening the capacity of 27 DPOs across Ekiti State on ACJA/ACJL, Up to date information to the public on the state of administration of  criminal justice in Ekiti State and establishment of  ACJA  Anti Corruption Resource Centre in Ekiti State.

The Working Group is working earnestly to ensure the establishment of ACJMC in accordance with the amended Ekiti State ACJL, 2022. The ACJMC if established shall be Chaired by the Honorable Chief Judge Ekiti State in Accordance with the Ekiti State ACJL, 2022.

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