Committee Vows to Expedite Justice Delivery in Delta State
By Onoriode Etatsemi
ASABA/Nigeria: In a resolute declaration, the Delta State Chairman of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law Monitoring Committee, Hon. Justice Godwin Briki-Okolosi, reiterated the committee’s unwavering commitment to ensuring accelerated justice delivery within the state.
Hon. Justice Briki-Okolosi made this assertion during an interaction with journalists following a meeting with the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ekemejero Ohwovoriole SAN, who also serves as a member of the committee. The meeting took place at the Ministry of Justice in Asaba.
Highlighting the committee’s mandate, as outlined in section 6 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Delta State, 2022, Justice Briki-Okolosi underscored the pivotal role of the committee in monitoring the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law in the state.
With over 700 sections, Justice Briki-Okolosi emphasized the imperative for all stakeholders, including judges, magistrates, police, DSS, and custodians of correctional centers, to fully comprehend and adhere to the provisions of the law.
Acknowledging the challenges faced by the committee, particularly its nascent status, Justice Briki-Okolosi identified funding as a critical hurdle confronting every arm of government. He stressed the importance of stakeholders understanding their roles and devising actionable plans to attract necessary funding.
Addressing logistical issues, Justice Briki-Okolosi called for the provision of vehicles for correctional centers to mitigate unnecessary trial delays. He underscored the significance of timely transportation of inmates to courts across the state to prevent congestion within custodial facilities.
Highlighting the operational constraints faced by correctional centers, Justice Briki-Okolosi noted that each of the five correctional centers in Delta State lacked sufficient vehicles to facilitate inmate transfers to various court venues, including the High Court, Magistrate Court, Area Courts, and District Courts.
He warned that prolonged trial delays resulting from remanded defendants could exacerbate congestion within custodial centers, underscoring the urgency of addressing logistical challenges to ensure efficient justice delivery across the state.
