… as Anambra govt plans establishment of juvenile Correctional Centers
Having specialized courts or specific days for criminal and civil matters will ensure speedy trial and determination of criminal cases, thereby helping to decongest Correctional Centres in the state, as well as upholding rights of inmates awaiting trial.
Anambra State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Professor Sylvia Ifemeje, announced this as the decision of members of the Anambra State Steering Committee on Implementation of International Idea/ROLAC II Programme during its meeting in Awka.
At the meeting, members of the committee were briefed on challenges, expected targets and action plans for the next quarter of the year.
Professor Ifemeje, who also said that Governor Chukwuma Soludo is committed to having a Correctional Centers for juveniles in conflict with the law in the state, explained that the absence of the centers has been creating problems in character reformation in a congested facility.
She explained that the amendment of the constitution of the federal government that included Correctional Centers in the Concurrent Legislative List has enabled the Anambra State Ministry of Justice to initiate Correctional Service Bill to help the state in proper facility management and possible expansion; given that criminality rate is on the increase in present-day society.
Professor Ifemeje, who also chairs the steering committee, commended RoLAC for being helpful in reforming the justice sector of the state and strengthening its anti corruption drive.
On his part, a member of the committee and Chairman of Anambra State Disability Rights Commission, Barrister Chuks Ezewuzie, said that access to justice requires that attention be given to speedy trial of criminal cases, which he said will ensure that those in awaiting trial are not allowed to stay long and be badly influenced by convicted inmates.
He noted that the concept of correction suggests that people who break the law get reformed and reintegrated into the society for a better life, reason he said there is the need for separation of those who actually needs to be rehabilitated from those who need to be “locked away” to serve their jail terms.
Earlier in her remark, the Anambra State Cordinator of RoLAC, Mrs Josephine Onah, called for increased state support for better project outcomes.
Other members of the steering committee present at the meeting were a Senior Magistrate, Mike Anyadiegwu, Deputy Chief Registrar, Inspectorate, Anambra State High Court, Vivian Udedike, state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs Ify Obinabo, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs Chinwe Achugbu, Permanent Secretary, Office of the state Head of Service, Mr. Adebayo Ojeyinka.
Members of Civil Society Organizations, including the Executive Director, Civil Rights Concern, Mr. Okey Onyeka, Executive Director of Victorian Clarion Foundation, Mrs Uju Onyendilefu, State Cordinator, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, Barrister Amaka Maduabuchi also attended the meeting.
