Daily Independent Online.
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Friday, June 11, 2004.
FG raises panel on administration of
criminal justice
By Rotimi Fadeyi,
Senior
Correspondent,
Abuja
Federal Government on Thursday took a bold
step towards reforming the administration of criminal justice as it inaugurated
a committee that would develop a draft of an Administration of Criminal Justice
Bill for consideration and approval of the National Assembly.
Attorney General of the Federation and
Minster of Justice, Chief Akinlolu Olujinmi (SAN), explained at the
inauguration of the committee that the task of reforming and modernising the
system of criminal justice administration was long overdue.
He said the group would carry out and
coordinate a series of activities and process towards the promulgation of the
law for the reform of the administration of criminal justice.
According to him, the committee is to work
out a comprehensive review of all the procedural laws resulting in the final
draft of an Administration of Criminal Justice Bill.
The chairman of the committee, Mr. Chino
Obiagwu, promised to work within the six months time frame for it to submit its
report.
Other members of the committee are Justice
C.C. Nweze, Justice H.M. Ogunwumiju; Hon. Aliyu Umar; Mr. Fola Arthur Worrey;
Mr. Tunde Fagbohunlu; Mr. Norrison Quakers and Mr. A. Kehinde. The minister will
be represented by his Special Assistant, Professor Yemi Akinseye George.
The terms of reference of the committee
include to develop a first draft of an Administration of Criminal Justice (ACJ)
Bill aimed at reducing delay in criminal trials and generally modernising the
criminal justice.
