Be conversant with provisions of ACJA-Don tells stakeholders
NAN-H-7
ACJA
By Sylvester Thompson
Abuja, Feb. 22, 2018(NAN) Prof. Adedeji Adekunle (SAN), the Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, has stressed the need for stakeholders to be conversant with the provisions of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
He said that it was important to read the ACJA, not only to get informed, but to lay hold and make good use of its various innovative provisions
Adekunle spoke in Abuja, at a workshop organised by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), on the validation of the training manual on the innovative provisions of the ACJA.
According to him, the ACJA can be effectively implemented to reduce corruption as proposed by FIDA, taking into consideration gender sensitiveness.
The Act signed into law in May 2015, has a 495-section law, divided into 49 parts.
It provides for the administration of criminal justice and for related matters.
Mrs Ngozi Ikenga, the Chairperson of FIDA, Abuja branch, who spoke, explained that the purpose of the workshop was to popularise the Act.
She also stressed the need for states to domesticate the provisions of the ACJA, in order to have a harmonised criminal justice system.
“The essence is to have a harmonised system so that whatever is obtainable in Abuja is obtainable in other states,” Ikenga said.
She said that if states domesticate the provisions of the Act, there will be no hiding place for corruption and criminals as the Act will apply in every state of the federation.
Mrs Ogechi Abu, one of the resource persons, said that the “ ACJA is big on restorative justice.”
Her lecture was entitled: ‘Issues of Gender and Vulnerable Groups.’
She re-iterated that FIDA works in the area of women and children.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the workshop was designed to enhance the capacity of the bar, the bench, Police and the general public in understanding the Act.
Proper understanding will enable them carry out their work in line with its provisions. (NAN)
SET/KTO/OU
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Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo/Obike Ukoh
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