On September 28, the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) has pledged its support to efforts of the Chief Justice of Nigeria(CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, in reforming the justice sector and fighting corruption. 

The NBA President, Mahmoud Balarabe, gave the assurance at the official hand over of anti-corruption and justice sector documents by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on Thursday. 

Balarabe said the justice sector needed reform, adding that the effort of the CJN would go a long way in repositioning it. 

He equally commended the UNODC for an extensive work in the justice sector and anti-corruption projects. 

He added that the documents presented to the NBA and other relevant institutions would help complement efforts of the CJN, the bar and other relevant institutions. 

”The UNODC has been a very strong partner and we value the work you have been doing and the excellent documentation that followed the work. 

”These documents we have received today will go a long way in assisting us in the bar.

”The justice sector is no doubt in need of reforms and we require some of the works that you have been putting together in form of strategy documents.

”This will go a long way in assisting not just the lawyers but also judges and court administrators. 

”Though the two programmes have come to an end I hope there will be continued collaboration in new projects that you will embark upon. 

”Just yesterday the National Judicial Council (NJC) under the leadership of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) announced the inauguration of a committee to monitor high corruption and financial crimes cases,” he said. 

The president promised that the bar and other institutions would continue to build on the works presented by the UNODC. Earlier, the Country Representative of UNODC, Ms Cristine Albertin said the office enjoyed the cooperation of the institutions it worked with in the course of the projects. 

”The justice sector project ended a month ago and the anti-corruption project as well ended six weeks ago. 

”We have produced series of manuals, guidelines from these projects for relevant institutions in Nigeria. 

”We have practice direction for FCT Court, we have CCT directions, we have Federal High Court sentencing guidelines and case materials on extradition. 

”Others are the National Legal Aid strategy, national policy on prosecution, document on legal services in Nigeria and many more. 

”So the purpose of this meeting is to officially hand over the publications for use in the various institutions, ” she said. (NAN).

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