Precious Oham
Justice Development and Peace Initiative, JDPI, of the Catholic Diocese of Ekiti, has called on Magistrates in the state to implement the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, ACJL, to aid quick dispensation of justice.
The group made the call at one-day interactive session with Magistrates in Ekiti State with support from Misereor IHR Hilfswerk on the implementation of ACJL as amended.
According to the Director of JDPI in Ekiti, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Akingbade, the practice of awaiting trial in criminal justice system has contributed to the congestion of correctional facility in the state.
While noting that the correctional facility in the state is designed for 324 persons that are convicted and awaiting trial, he revealed that the number increased to over 1000 inmates as at November 2023.
He appealed to the Magistrates to administer the ACJL and come to the side of justice towards ensuring that the correctional facility in the state is decongested.
His words: “We started the crusade of ensuring that the law as amended was passed into law in 2022. We appreciate the House of Assembly for recognising us a a member of the committee as an NGO in the ACJL as amended.
“We want to commend the efforts of our Magistrates in bringing down the numbers in the correctional centres. In the month of December 2023, we have the number reduced to over 500 as a result of the Magistrates.
“We at JDPI pursue justice. Anybody that is found to have committed punishable offences should be made to face the wrath of the law as a result of their actions as at when due.
“We are begging you to administer the ACJL and come to the side of justice so that our prisons are decongested. We are working towards a decongested correctional centre.”
Earlier in his keynote address, the Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice John Oyewole Adeyeye, represented by the Deputy Chief Registrar 1 of the State High Court, Abdulhamid Lawal commended JDPI for contributing to the development of justice system in the society.
According to him; “There can be no peace without justice. Any organization that contributes to development and peace will go a long way in developing the society. JDPI has contributed to the development of the society. We are wishing that this will continue.”
