The Kebbi state Governor, Atiku Bagudu, has inaugurated an implementation committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice in the state.
The Committee, which was inaugurated in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday, is headed by the Kebbi State Chief Judge, Justice Suleiman Muhammad-Ambursa, comprising other Judges, Magistrates, heads of security agencies and civil societies, as members.
While inaugurating the committee, Bagudu, represented by the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Samaila Yombe-Dabai, said the state government would give the committee total support to succeed in its mission.
“The reason for this committee is for them to implement the Criminal Justice laws and rules in the state.
“Therefore, on behalf of His Excellency, the Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, I hereby inaugurate this Committee.
“I want to assure you, on behalf of the Governor, that the government of Kebbi state would give you total support to ensure that the mission ahead of you is performed successfully”.
In his remarks, Muhammad-Ambursa, noted that with the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice laws, rules in the state, a criminal case could be concluded within a period of six months or even in a day.
He also alerted the executive and legislature not to blame the Judiciary if they started seeing suspected criminals being released, stressing that the judiciary is just there to apply the Criminal Acts, Laws and rules made and assented to by the executive.
” As a result of our passion to ensure that the law is passed in accordance with the law itself, we came up with Section 496 in the ACJN with rules governing the applications of the Criminal Administration of Criminal Justice in Kebbi State.
“I am sure that many of you have in your possession those rules. If you don’t have the rules, it would be difficult to implement the Administration of Criminal Justice law in Kebbi state.
“We have provided virtually, the Secretariat and the main working tools for the Committee, just for the beginning.
“We must thank MacArthur Foundation for supporting this Committee financially and with materials.
“I want to use this opportunity to call on our Counsels, present here today, to study the Administration of Criminal Justice laws and rules very well.
“And I am sure that, by the time you study them, and understand them, our work in the Judiciary would be simplified.
“Because, without adhering to those rules ,and provisions, the applications of Criminal Justice would be delayed on the Judiciary. Because the provision of those laws are time drivers”.
Speaking on the implications of the implementation of the Criminal Laws, Muhammad- Ambursa said:” Your Excellency, if you see those Criminals being released, don’t blame the Judiciary, blame those laws.
“And the laws, rules were made by the legislature and assented to by the executive.
“Our role as the judiciary is to apply the provisions of the laws. I hope that everybody would play their roles according to these laws and rules”, he said.
He added that it was only in the state that a criminal case could be concluded within six months or in a day, depending on the readiness of the police and other security agencies.
“With this inauguration of the Committee, Kebbi state would make progress. It is only in Kebbi state that you will see a case concluded within six months, even in a day.
“In other states, it could take them longer time. This progress can be achieved with the cooperation of all stakeholders”.
The Chief judge also appealed to the stakeholders not to abuse the application of bail, stressing that, all Judges should simply adhere and comply with the laws.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee, (ACJMC), Mr Suleiman Daudu, disclosed that the state was the sixteenth where the implementation committee had been inaugurated.
He thanked the state government for enacting the laws since October 2021, saying it gave room for the ACJMC to be inaugurated in the state.
Speaking on behalf of the committee members, Mr Yakubu Chinoko-Maikyau (SAN), said that the bar was fully ready to cooperate with the bench, to ensure the implementation of the ACJMC in the state.
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