The Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Justice Ishaq Bello, on Thursday, inaugurated a “Working Group” on the implementation of Section 34 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act which has to do with inspection and monitoring of detention facilities.
Section 34 of the ACJA provides for monthly visits to police stations and other places of detention by a chief magistrate for the purpose of monitoring and inspecting the status of compliance with the human rights of suspects.
Justice Bello inaugurated the working group in Abuja, charging the members to ensure the enforcement of the human rights of suspects held in police stations and other detention centres.
Justice Bello noted that the ACJA was “enacted as a solution to the challenge faced by the Nigerian court system.”
He added, “Police stations and detention centres across states should be ACJA-compliant.
“This working group will also act as a monitoring mechanism and also enhance transparency on what goes on in these detention centres.”
The Chief Judge said, “Apart from ensuring that rights of suspects are respected in the detention centres, the group “is being tasked to come up with strategies for the effective implementation of this project.
“The proposed police stations visit will provide a platform to introduce a legal advice scheme to ensure suspects and victims have access to free legal advice and that they are kept in humane conditions as the ACJA anticipates.”
He said the work group was put in place to promote confidence of the public in the criminal justice system and in line with international best practice.
“It is my hope that the inauguration of the working group births the change we want to see in the area of human rights of persons in the police station and other detention centres,” he said.
The members of the newly inaugurated working group were drawn from various ministries and agencies including the Federal Ministry of Police Affair, the Nigeria Police Force, the Legal Aid Council, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons.
The working group is a sub-committee of the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee headed by the Chief Judge of the FCT.
Section 34 of the ACJA provides for monthly visits to police stations and other places of detention by a chief magistrate for the purpose of monitoring and inspecting the status of compliance with the human rights of suspects.
Justice Bello inaugurated the working group in Abuja, charging the members to ensure the enforcement of the human rights of suspects held in police stations and other detention centres.
Justice Bello noted that the ACJA was “enacted as a solution to the challenge faced by the Nigerian court system.”
He added, “Police stations and detention centres across states should be ACJA-compliant.
“This working group will also act as a monitoring mechanism and also enhance transparency on what goes on in these detention centres.”
The Chief Judge said, “Apart from ensuring that rights of suspects are respected in the detention centres, the group “is being tasked to come up with strategies for the effective implementation of this project.
“The proposed police stations visit will provide a platform to introduce a legal advice scheme to ensure suspects and victims have access to free legal advice and that they are kept in humane conditions as the ACJA anticipates.”
He said the work group was put in place to promote confidence of the public in the criminal justice system and in line with international best practice.
“It is my hope that the inauguration of the working group births the change we want to see in the area of human rights of persons in the police station and other detention centres,” he said.
The members of the newly inaugurated working group were drawn from various ministries and agencies including the Federal Ministry of Police Affair, the Nigeria Police Force, the Legal Aid Council, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons.
The working group is a sub-committee of the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee headed by the Chief Judge of the FCT.
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