Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has advocated urgent but comprehensive reforms in the Nigerian justice system, pointing out that such move would help to strengthen the country’s nascent democracy, impact positively on the lives of citizens and as well boost the country’s image.
Governor Ugwuanyi regretted that despite all efforts to reform the justice sector, there are still challenges in areas of prison congestion, abuses by law enforcement agencies and delay in the dispensation of justice in the country.
Speaking through his deputy, Hon. Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, at the Nike Lake Resort Hotel, Enugu, during a parley of a network of Justice Reform teams, Governor Ugwuanyi urged participants to discuss ways of achieving consistency, synergy and fruitful collaboration in the pursuit of the desired reforms in the justice sector.
According to him, “I believe the meeting would afford the various Justice Reform Teams the opportunity to find ways of achieving consistency, synergy and fruitful collaborations in the pursuit of the desired reforms in the justice sector.”
He enjoined the participants to adopt a common approach to the issues of membership, legal mandate, funding, administration and leadership which are central to the efficacy of the operations and programmes.
He noted that reformation of justice sector is a prominent component of the state government.
Governor Ugwuanyi added that his administration’s efforts in the area of Justice Transformation through its collaboration and partnership with development partners like the United State Department for International Development (DFID) and Justice for All have been most rewarding.
In an address, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Miletus Eze said that the state keyed into Justice Reforms in 2002 when it established the Enugu State Reform Team
(ESJRT) under the auspices of the “Access to Justice” programme of United State Department for International Development (DFID)
He added that the present administration of Governor Ugwuanyi is interested and ready to work with and support the State Justice Reform Team because of its alignment of its strategic goals with the 4-point agenda of the administration.
In his words, “Security and Justice is germane to the issue of good governance and improved economic conditions in the state.”
According to Chief Eze, the interventions carried out by ESJRT since its inception has resulted in a quantum leap in the justice sector reform process and justice delivery in the state.
He enumerated some of the activities implemented by ESJRT in collaboration with Justice for All as sensitization workshop for justice sector, renovation of Magistrates Complex and Case Management system in DPP’s Office and extension of same to High Court among others.
In an address the Chairman of the meeting and the national programme manager, Justice for All, Dr. Bob Arnot assured that Justice for All is committed towards taking justice to the grass-root and making it accessible for all by removing all bottle necks associated with rendering justice.
He added that the key aim of the meeting was to see how justice reform can be generalized to all states in the country.
