States assemblies Speakers to adopt bill on administration of criminal justice

THE Speakers of States’ Houses of Assembly have agreed on the adoption of Administration of Criminal Justice Bill within the next three months in their states.

Besides, they said they would pursue with more vigour the adoption of the Bill that would guarantee financial autonomy and true political independence to the state legislatures. The Bill in question is believed to be awaiting the signatures of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Although five states had already commenced the system, aimed at expunging lacuna from criminal justices, expedite the pace of trial and help in decongesting detention centres, Speakers of other states of the federation having seen its effectiveness have agreed to its practice in their respective states.

These formed part of the resolutions of the Speakers at the end of the two-day Speakers Conference in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

The event, which came to an end yesterday was sponsored by the Kwara State House of Assembly in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), under the European Union.

According to the newly elected Chairman of the Speakers Forum who is also the Speaker of Kebbi State House of Assembly, Ismaila Abdulmumini, the conference applauded the enactment of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 by the Federal Government and some states of the federation, describing the development as significant and a step in a right direction.

Abdulmumini succeeded Abdulkarim Lawan the Speaker of Borno State House of Assembly.

The conference, which drew capacity audience had in attendance Criminal Justice Experts such as Professor Deji Odewale and Belachew Fikre of International Criminal Justice Reformed Department.

Abdulmumini said the conference saw the purposes of a model administration as a tool that engendered a smooth, effective and transparent Criminal Justice Administration and meet the hopes and aspirations of the Nigerian citizens in their entirety.

According to him, “we affirmed the need for a model law that can easily traverse through the legislative processes at the respective Houses with a more efficient, synergised and cost-effective manner.

“Therefore, we agreed on the urgency to table the Model Administration of Criminal Justice Law for onward adoption at the respective Houses of Assembly.”

Already, the forum has called upon experts to submit the clean copy of the model within one month effective from weekend to Speakers through the secretariat, that is the Kwara State House of Assembly.