By Ogenyi Ogenyi

Stakeholders in the justice sector in Cross River State have called for stronger collaboration, improved funding, police reforms and full implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) to ensure speedy and fair dispensation of justice in Nigeria.

The call was made during a series of advocacy engagements organised by the Human Rights Law Service, (HURILAWS) in partnership with its local partners held in Calabar recently, involving Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the Nigerian Police Force, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ministry of Justice officials, the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC) and the Legal Aid Council.

According to the statement issued by the Project Lead, Dr. Innih Archibong and made available to newsmen on Tuesday, the meetings, held in phases, were aimed at deepening awareness, strengthening capacity and fostering collaboration among critical stakeholders in the criminal justice system to enhance the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law in Cross River State and beyond.

Speaking during the engagements, the Project Lead, Dr. Innih Archibong, who is also the Executive Director of Liberty Now, explained that the advocacy visits were designed to build synergy among stakeholders and improve understanding of the law for effective justice delivery.

According to him, Cross River State was one of the first states in Nigeria to domesticate the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, stressing that those charged with implementing the law, especially the Police, Judiciary and Correctional Services, must fully understand its provisions to prevent abuse and injustice.

Dr. Archibong lamented that despite efforts made by HURILAWS and other partners in supporting the passage and implementation of the law through research, media advocacy, workshops and publications, many suspects were still being detained without adequate opportunity to defend themselves.

He also decried poor funding and lack of modern facilities within the Police Force, warning that unresolved injustice could pose serious dangers to the society.

“Justice must not only be done, but must be seen to have been done. Injustice, if left unchecked, can lead to doom in the society,” he stated.

During a meeting with the Cross River State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Rashid Afegbua, the HURILAWS team advocated for continuous reforms, training and improved welfare for police personnel.

Responding, CP Afegbua appreciated the advocacy group for the visit and acknowledged the challenges confronting the Police Force.

He noted that the current security realities and provisions of the Police Act require periodic review and called for sustained training and retraining of officers, particularly junior personnel, to improve professionalism and policing standards.

The Commissioner expressed optimism that continued collaboration with HURILAWS and other stakeholders would strengthen justice administration in the state.

Calabar branch Chairman of NBA, Barrister Enome Amatey, described the pursuit of justice as a collective responsibility, adding that the NBA had continued to champion advocacy and institutional partnerships to strengthen the justice system.

He, however, identified poor funding and inadequate facilities as major obstacles affecting effective justice administration.
Corroborating the concerns, the Vice Chairman of the NBA, Mr. Triumph Paul, argued that beyond funding and logistics, the “human factor” within the Police Force remained a major challenge.

He stressed the need for proper orientation, discipline and continuous training for officers to enhance public confidence in policing.

Similarly, the NBA Secretary, Mr. Joseph Akpajo, called on the Police Service Commission to intensify orientation programmes and ensure only qualified personnel are recruited into the Force.

The advocacy team also visited the Cross River State Ministry of Justice, the ACJMC and the Judiciary where the Chief Registrar, Deputy Registrar, representatives of the Human Rights Commission, Child Protection Network and civil society groups participated in discussions on reforms within the justice sector.

Speaking during the meeting, Dr. Archibong urged investigators to devote more time to building strong cases before arraigning suspects in court, while condemning prolonged detention and indiscriminate pre-trial detentions.

He further advocated for the democratization of the law to ensure speedy dispensation of justice and protection of the rights of suspects.

The Secretary of ACJMC, Barrister James Ibor, commended HURILAWS for its consistency in supporting the justice sector over the years, particularly in strengthening the committee’s secretariat despite funding limitations.

He noted that while pre-trial detentions had helped magistrates conduct proper investigations in some cases, there had also been significant improvements in handling confessional statements under the current law.

Barrister Ibor also advocated for improved forensic investigation tools, including fingerprint machines across communities, as well as increased funding for the Police and justice institutions.

The Chief Registrar, in her remarks, emphasized that the advocacy was not only for actors within the justice sector but for society at large.

According to her, many inmates in Correctional facilities were innocent or had accepted offences they never committed due to lack of legal representation and proper investigation.

She described inadequate funding as a major challenge and promised to brief the State Chief Judge on the need to strengthen the justice system.

The advocacy visits also extended to the Legal Aid Council, Cross River State, where the State Coordinator, Mrs. Rose Okoi, acknowledged the innovations introduced by the Administration of Criminal Justice Law.

Mrs. Okoi noted that increased collaboration, adequate funding and improved logistics for Custodial centres would greatly enhance speedy justice delivery.

The advocacy engagement ended with a book presentation performed by Mrs. Maria Ukpayang of the Radiant Women Association, as stakeholders renewed calls for collective action towards building a more efficient and people-oriented justice system.

Earlier, Mr Yemi Ofem had introduced HURILAWS as a non-profit organisation based in Lagos, which works at intersection of human rights and justice system reforms.

HURILAWS, is funded by a German grant maker, MISEREOR E. U to deepen the project’s awareness on justice system in Nigeria and beyond.