Sokoto State on Monday inaugurated a 13-member Administration of Criminal Justice (ACJL) Committee to ensure speedy dispensation of all criminal cases.
The ACJL committee, through speedy trials of criminal cases, will also help decongest the crowded correctional centres in the state.
Speaking at a day workshop supported by MacArthur Foundation and the Federal Ministry of Justice on the ACJL at the State High Court hall, the State Chief Judge, Justice Muhammad Saidu Sifawa, confirmed that the ACJL was established under section 468 of ACJL of Sokoto State.
Explaining the motive behind it, Justice Sifawa said, “It will amongst other things ensure speedy administration of justice, protection of the society from crimes, protection of the right and interests of the suspects, defendants and victims.
” ACJL is also aimed at ensuring that administration of criminal Justice system becomes more efficient in terms of management, and more commitments toward strengthening criminal justice system through easing difficulties often encountered by trial judges, lawyers and litigants.
”Members of the committee are expected to work effectively towards implementation of our responsibilities as enshrined under section 469 of ACJL.
Adding that Sokoto domesticated the ACJL after Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal signed it into law on May 29, 2019, Sifawa said the provision of the ACJL will ensure that those with cases of awaiting trials are not detained in correctional centres.
The committee, he noted, would also encourage robust relationship with all those charged with the responsibility of criminal justice, collate, analyse and publish information in relation to criminal justice administration.
He added that the committee would be submitting quarterly report to him in order to keep him abreast on the developments.
Earlier in his address, Sokoto State Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice, Suleiman Usman (SAN), said the committee will level all barriers to effective administration of criminal justice.
The Sokoto AG added that the committee will help reduce hindrance that prolong criminal trials by guaranteeing daily trials in courts to reduced trial period to at least one year and no longer the usual 10 years average allowed at the high courts.
He said, ”And to achieve this, there is the need for synergy, sharing of information, knowledge and skills for justice administration.
“The committee establishment became necessary in line with the State Government efforts on laws review, updated and modernization to ensure that laws become fair and reasonable as well as look at need for new laws to be enacted in order to meet the current developmental challenges.
” We embarked on law reforms in Sokoto State to ensure that administration of justice is responsive, speedy and justice driven.
” The realities have emerged that we need more than review, we must fill existing gaps by ensuring that laws that are not in existence, but which are necessary for order and good governance of Sokoto state are enacted.
” Obsolete laws to be modernized and updated while redundant laws are repealed before we embarked on consolidation and publication of new Laws of Sokoto State 2021, ” Usman added.
