Members of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, (ACJA) Working Group in Ekiti State have called on the various institutions in the justice system to embrace due process and shun all forms of corruption in the course of carrying out their duties, irrespective of the situation.
The stakeholders spoke on Tuesday at its meeting held at the Afe Babalola Bar Centre, Ado Ekiti with funding Support from FIDA Nigeria in collaboration with MacArthur Foundation.
The Group having examined the state of things in the justice system, resolved that there was no justification for sharp practices, hence all hands must be on deck to sanitize the system.
Addressing the House, the ACJA Working Group, Coordinator in Ekiti State who is also the Executive Director, Gender Relevance Initiative Promotion GRIP, Mrs. Rita Ilevbare explained that corruption in the justice sector was not limited to money exchanging hands alone but all forms of practices that were not in tandem with the principles of effective administration of justice.
She highlighted the affected actors in the justice sector to include, law enforcement agencies among which are, Police, NDLEA, NSCDC, the Judiciary which includes Lawyers, Judges, Ministry of Justice, Bailiff and court registrars and the Nigeria Correctional Services.
According to Mrs. Ilevbare, corruption has eaten deep into the Nigeria system and the consequences are damaging, hence it must be stopped.
Her words: “Corruption does not only mean that money must exchange hands. Not allowing lawyers to have access to suspects arrested is corruption, the moment you fail to release exhibit after prosecution of case is corruption, arresting suspect without telling him or her from the point of arrest the offense committed is a form of corruption, lawyers trying to use influence to buy judgement is corruption, Registrars holding onto files for ransom is corruption and many more which must be stopped.
“As actors in the criminal justice sector, we must not fold our arms because the consequences would definitely fall back she said.
Also speaking, the FIDA Chairperson in Ekiti State, Oyinade Olatubosun explained that about fifty women lawyers were trained recently on how to end corruption in the justice sector due to its adverse effects on the Nation.
Mrs. Olatubosun urged security agencies to always treat petitions before them urgently so as not to allow suspects escape arrest saying delay is dangerous especially in criminal cases.
Also, the representative of National Human Rights Commission, Ekiti State, Theophillus Gbadeyan explained that every actor in the justice system must be upright and stop giving excuses for wrong doings.
He said the Commission during a recent visit to some cells of security agencies in Ekiti observed some anomalies which were worrisome, adding that efforts were on top gear to address the situations.
In his contribution,, representative of the Police, ASP Jimoh Ariyo said the Force need all the necessary facilities to operate, urging Government and other stakeholders to address the situation so as to enhance Police service delivery.
A vote of confidence and commendation was passed on the Office of the Chief Judge Ekiti State and the Attorney General for adoption of virtual proceedings as well as non-custodial sentencing in Ekiti State inline with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
The stakeholders were worried over the state of insecurity in the Country and called on concerned authorities to address the situation.