A Non-Governmental Organisation — the Centre for Transparency Advocacy, in collaboration with the Abia State Ministry of Justice, and the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme, on Thursday held a capacity-building workshop to strengthen access to justice for people in the state.

Speaking during the workshop, the representative of the Abia State Judiciary and facilitator at the workshop, Chiemezielam Oluoha-Steve expressed the wish of the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna to review and strengthen the Abia State Criminal Justice Law, ACJL of 2017.

In her overview of the law, Oluoha-Steve highlighted its key provisions, objectives and intended reforms, stating, “The law promotes the speedy dispensation of justice, prohibits arrests where there is a civil wrong or breach of contract, protects the rights of a suspect, a defendant and a victim; prohibits the arrest of a person in the place of a victim, provides for women sureties and provides for trial of corporations.”
She disclosed that the state’s Attorney-General and CJ had highlighted the proper ways of arrests, detention, interrogation and prosecution of defendants in a matter, reminding that “the burden of responsibility always weighs on the defendant,” adding that even confessions must be properly recorded, including videos.

Earlier in her welcome address and overview of the project with the theme, “Strengthening the Rule of Law Through Effective Implementation of the Abia State Administration of Criminal Justice, ACJL 2017,” CTA’s Executive Director, Faith Nwadishi said there is the need for all Abians to assess justice and for the state to have the ACJL 2017 implemented.

“It is the desire of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to see that access to justice is obtained in the state,” Nwadishi said, adding that the measure is an approach to get the citizens to know their rights and to hold security agencies and judicial officers accountable.