The Chief Judge, CJ, of Oyo State, Justice Munta Abimbola, has inaugurated a committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice Law in the state.
The CJ said that this is part of efforts to provide an efficient and effective practice direction that would consider different means of practising and administering criminal justice law in Oyo State.
The committee, to be headed by Justice Ladiran Akintola, is expected to look at the shortcomings within the system that had been operative in the state over the years, and further access the practice and proffer suggestions that would fast track the dispensation of justice and curb congestion in courts.
Members of the committee are drawn from the police, the correctional centres, the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Oyo State agencies, nongovernmental bodies and other stakeholders.
Charging members of the committee, Justice Abimbola said that when judgment is fast-tracked, it will help to decongest correctional centres, and ensure that juvenile offenders are not kept unnecessarily longer at correctional homes.
He added that “there is no law that does not have its own rules to explain its operations, so we need a practice direction for the operators to follow. The practice direction will assist the understanding and the operation of the use of the administration of criminal justice law.”
The CJ averred that effective implementation of the criminal law involves all partners, including the police, insisting that it must be ensured that all of them are carried along with the committee.
On the leadership of the committee, Justice Abimbola described Justice Akintola as an erudite judge, who is not only capable of leading the committee well in the discharge of its duty, but will also ensure that he looks at the issues holistically and covers all necessary areas.
In his acceptance speech, Justice Akintola said that he is happy to take on the assignment and promised that the committee will deliver on its mandate within the shortest time possible and would not exceed the time given.
Justice Akintola enjoined the police and other stakeholders to cooperate with the committee to achieve its goal as everyone has a role to play in attaining the expected objectives.
