The Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA), in partnership with the Abia State Ministry of Justice and the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme (RoLAC), organized a capacity-building workshop aimed at bolstering access to justice for residents of Abia State. The workshop, centered around strengthening the implementation of the Abia State Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) of 2017, brought together key stakeholders to discuss the law’s provisions, challenges, and opportunities for improvement. The event underscored the commitment of the state government, particularly the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna, to ensuring equitable access to justice for all citizens. This commitment reflects a broader recognition of the crucial role that access to justice plays in upholding the rule of law and fostering a fair and equitable society.
Chiemezielam Oluoha-Steve, representing the Abia State Judiciary and serving as a facilitator at the workshop, conveyed Attorney General Uwanna’s intention to review and strengthen the ACJL 2017. This review aims to ensure the law remains relevant and effective in addressing contemporary challenges within the criminal justice system. Oluoha-Steve provided a comprehensive overview of the ACJL, highlighting its key provisions and objectives, including the promotion of speedy justice dispensation, the protection of the rights of suspects, defendants, and victims, and provisions for women sureties and the trial of corporations. The overview emphasized the law’s emphasis on due process and the safeguarding of individual rights at all stages of the criminal justice process.
The ACJL’s prohibition against arrests in cases of civil wrongs or breaches of contract represents a significant step towards preventing the misuse of criminal law for resolving civil disputes. It underscores the principle that the criminal justice system should be reserved for addressing actual crimes, rather than being employed as a tool for debt collection or other civil matters. This provision is crucial for protecting individuals from unwarranted arrests and ensuring that the criminal justice system is not burdened with cases that fall outside its purview.
The law’s emphasis on protecting the rights of suspects, defendants, and victims further reinforces its commitment to due process and fairness. By providing clear guidelines for arrests, detention, interrogation, and prosecution, the ACJL aims to minimize the potential for abuse and ensure that all individuals are treated with dignity and respect throughout the legal process. The requirement of proper documentation of confessions, including video recordings, serves as a safeguard against coerced confessions and ensures that evidence is collected in a manner that upholds the integrity of the legal system.
Faith Nwadishi, Executive Director of CTA, emphasized the importance of the workshop’s theme, “Strengthening the Rule of Law Through Effective Implementation of the Abia State Administration of Criminal Justice, ACJL 2017,” highlighting the need for all Abia residents to have access to justice. She reiterated the Attorney General’s commitment to ensuring access to justice within the state and emphasized that the workshop represented a crucial step towards achieving this goal. The workshop’s focus on educating citizens about their rights and empowering them to hold security agencies and judicial officers accountable demonstrates a proactive approach to fostering transparency and accountability within the justice system.
The workshop serves as a testament to the collaborative efforts of government agencies, civil society organizations, and international partners in strengthening the rule of law and promoting access to justice in Abia State. The review and potential strengthening of the ACJL 2017, coupled with the ongoing capacity-building initiatives, signify a proactive approach to addressing the challenges within the criminal justice system. By empowering citizens with knowledge of their rights and responsibilities, and by promoting adherence to due process within the legal system, Abia State is striving to create a more just and equitable society for all its residents. The ongoing collaboration between stakeholders underscores the importance of sustained engagement in the pursuit of justice and the strengthening of the rule of law.
