The chief judges of the Federal Capital Territory and the states should appoint designate chief magistrates to conduct monthly visitations to police stations and other detention centres in the country
Bar and Bench must implement provisions of ACJA —Mr Femi Falana, SAN “In enhancing the criminal justice system the Bar and the Bench should ensure a zealous implementation of the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
To achieve the principal objectives of the Act, the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee must be allowed to monitor the prosecution of all criminal matters including corruption cases and decongest our prisons in line with sections 110 and 469 of the Act. “The chief judges of the Federal Capital Territory and the states should appoint designate chief magistrates to conduct monthly visitations to police stations and other detention centres in the country.
I expect the 125 branches of the Nigerian Bar Association and the human rights community to take advantage of the Act to put an end to illegal detention of Nigerian citizens by the Police and other law enforcement agencies. “Instead of appealing to the government to obey court orders the NBA should adopt measures that will force the Buhari administration to embrace the rule of law. State governments which have not adopted the Administration of Criminal Justice Act Act should do so without any further delay. With respect to civil proceedings the uniform rules of procedure are capable to enhance justice but the courts have to engage in case management.”
“We need a fearless, courageous, strong virile and independent Bar, This is because, it is the backbone of the judiciary. We need a bar that is articulate and alive to its responsibilities as the voice of the voiceless and the helper of helpless. Thank God, the Nigerian Bar Association has shown over the year that it is partner in progress with the ordinary citizen. To be able to play its role as social engineer, the bar must continue with what it has been doing over the years. It must remain committed, remain dedicated, to be able to support the helpless people in our country.
And it should stand at all times, whenever the independence of the judiciary is being threatened by anybody. It must act as the bulwark against oppression. And if the NBA gets it right, it would assist in no little measure to help the judiciary. “For the judiciary to discharge its duty very well and creditably, it must be free, must be courageous, be independent, it must be able to call the spade by its name and remain absolutely incorruptible. Now if the judiciary is able to possess these qualities, all of us will be the beneficiaries of the qualitative judiciary.”
“The new year, offers a good opportunity for the Bench and the Bar to work together, with a view to enhancing Justice delivery that is timely and fair. Our calling as legal practitioners, is beyond business or sheer money making. It is a calling to be partakers in the higher ideal of justice delivery. It’s a great honor for which our country, indeed humanity will be grateful if we discharged it well. “Nigerians have enough frustrations already, we should make it our bounden duty to lessen it by making the process serve it’s purpose. There is a link between injustice and insecurity, we will do well to be conscious of it. It is not too late, to join hands to build a secured and prosperous country, of which we will all be proud.
On Appellate Court
“Perhaps it is time to look more closely into the suggestion of Tobi JSC ; (of blessed memory ) that the various divisions of the court of appeal should have an exchange Programme for their judgements, so that the right hand will know what the left hand has done or is doing. That I believe, will help ameliorate the incidents of conflicting judgements, more so that not all of their judgements get reported. We Lawyers, can also do better to expedite the determination of cases, by meaningful reliance on the body of case Law, particularly of Supreme Court judgements already available. I believe that this is the essence of the doctrine of judicial precedent. Why take coal to Newcastle over and over again? One thing we must never lose sight of though , is that Justice in it’s true sense, is always according to Law and not sentiments or emotions . “
Bar and Bench must implement provisions of ACJA —Mr Femi Falana, SAN “In enhancing the criminal justice system the Bar and the Bench should ensure a zealous implementation of the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
To achieve the principal objectives of the Act, the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee must be allowed to monitor the prosecution of all criminal matters including corruption cases and decongest our prisons in line with sections 110 and 469 of the Act. “The chief judges of the Federal Capital Territory and the states should appoint designate chief magistrates to conduct monthly visitations to police stations and other detention centres in the country.
I expect the 125 branches of the Nigerian Bar Association and the human rights community to take advantage of the Act to put an end to illegal detention of Nigerian citizens by the Police and other law enforcement agencies. “Instead of appealing to the government to obey court orders the NBA should adopt measures that will force the Buhari administration to embrace the rule of law. State governments which have not adopted the Administration of Criminal Justice Act Act should do so without any further delay. With respect to civil proceedings the uniform rules of procedure are capable to enhance justice but the courts have to engage in case management.”
“We need a fearless, courageous, strong virile and independent Bar, This is because, it is the backbone of the judiciary. We need a bar that is articulate and alive to its responsibilities as the voice of the voiceless and the helper of helpless. Thank God, the Nigerian Bar Association has shown over the year that it is partner in progress with the ordinary citizen. To be able to play its role as social engineer, the bar must continue with what it has been doing over the years. It must remain committed, remain dedicated, to be able to support the helpless people in our country.
And it should stand at all times, whenever the independence of the judiciary is being threatened by anybody. It must act as the bulwark against oppression. And if the NBA gets it right, it would assist in no little measure to help the judiciary. “For the judiciary to discharge its duty very well and creditably, it must be free, must be courageous, be independent, it must be able to call the spade by its name and remain absolutely incorruptible. Now if the judiciary is able to possess these qualities, all of us will be the beneficiaries of the qualitative judiciary.”
“The new year, offers a good opportunity for the Bench and the Bar to work together, with a view to enhancing Justice delivery that is timely and fair. Our calling as legal practitioners, is beyond business or sheer money making. It is a calling to be partakers in the higher ideal of justice delivery. It’s a great honor for which our country, indeed humanity will be grateful if we discharged it well. “Nigerians have enough frustrations already, we should make it our bounden duty to lessen it by making the process serve it’s purpose. There is a link between injustice and insecurity, we will do well to be conscious of it. It is not too late, to join hands to build a secured and prosperous country, of which we will all be proud.
On Appellate Court
“Perhaps it is time to look more closely into the suggestion of Tobi JSC ; (of blessed memory ) that the various divisions of the court of appeal should have an exchange Programme for their judgements, so that the right hand will know what the left hand has done or is doing. That I believe, will help ameliorate the incidents of conflicting judgements, more so that not all of their judgements get reported. We Lawyers, can also do better to expedite the determination of cases, by meaningful reliance on the body of case Law, particularly of Supreme Court judgements already available. I believe that this is the essence of the doctrine of judicial precedent. Why take coal to Newcastle over and over again? One thing we must never lose sight of though , is that Justice in it’s true sense, is always according to Law and not sentiments or emotions . “
SHARE THIS POST
0 comments:
Post a Comment