By Paul Okojie
The acting Executive Director of CLEEN Foundation , Mr. Peter Maduoma has called for deeper institutional strengthening, broader stakeholders coordinnation in achieving successful implementation of ACJL.
Mr Maduona stressed that ,to sustain reforms in the administration of Criminal Justice Law, all hands must be on desk.
He stated this at a Town Hall meeting organized by CLEEN Foundation in collaboration with Mac Arthur Foundation for stakeholders in the administration of Criminal Justice Law in Benin City.
Mr. Maduona who was represented by the Program Manager, Mrs Blessing Abiri revealed that Institutional strengthening and sustainability engagement is the right way to go if significant achievement is to be recorded in the Criminal Justice Law
According to her, the efforts of stakeholders within the two years the foundation has sponsored training, workshop and town hall meeting have recorded have expanded the multi-stakeholder engagement.
Speaking also at the town hall meeting is the Chief Justice of Edo State, Justice Daniel Iyobosa Okungbowa who appealed to stakeholders in the Justice sector reform to always apply humane treatment when remanding suspects and convicted persons.
According to Justice Okungbowa, every society is built on the rule of law but when law is obligated in some ways, it will lead to anarchy, chaos and resuscitation of the Hobberesiqn State of nature where Man becomes a beast to his fellow Man.
He further stressed that deepend forensics and technology templates in the Criminal Justice system is needed to achieve the goals of ACJL. He added that :We can not afford to lag behind because jurisprudence is now approached in a multidisciplinary manner.’
He commended CLEEN Foundation for the town hall meeting which has afforded the opportunity for stakeholders to brainstorm and chart a new way in the implementation and monitoring of ACJL in the state.
Highpoint of the town hall meeting was the interactive section where members of CSOs Observatory Group take their turns to ask very critical questions and made workable suggestions and strategies to the stakeholders.