- By Eric Ikhilae, Abuja
A criminal justice sector advocacy group, the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS), has called for enhanced funding of criminal justice institutions as a way to strengthen the rule of law and preserve the nation’s democracy.
CSLS’ President, Professor Yemi Akinseye-George (SAN), noted that when criminal justice institutions are well empowered to bring errant citizens to book, irrespective of status, people will be reluctant to put themselves in conflict with the law, thereby creating an environment where the rule of law and democratic tenets thrive.
Prof. Akinseye-George added that if the criminal justice system is hobbled and unable to discharge its mandate, the rule of law and democracy will be imperilled.
He spoke in Abuja on Tuesday at a capacity-building training for about 130 young professionals, including lawyers, court officials, and others, as volunteer advocates for the effective implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and Administration of Criminal Justice Laws (ACJA and ACJLs) across the country.
Prof. Akinseye-George said, “What we are doing here is raising a new generation of young Nigerians and lawyers, who will continue to advance the campaign for a reformed criminal justice system in the country.
“These are rangers who are being trained to contribute their quotas to ensure the proper implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and the Administration of Criminal Justice Laws of the various states.”
“The rangers are those who volunteered to support and to speak in favour of the proper implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and the Administration of Criminal Justice Laws.
“We realised that a democracy that does not have an effective or functional criminal justice system that can hold people accountable, especially powerful people, is endangered because the powerful people do not want to follow the law. But if we don’t follow the law, we are all in danger.
“So, we are here to advance the rule of law and the proper implementation of the ACJA and the ACJLs of the various states. We know we cannot do it alone. That is why we are reaching out to both young lawyers and non-lawyers,” he said.
Prof. Akinseye-George argued that the issue of criminal justice is not only for lawyers but for everyone, because different people play several roles, such as witnesses, advocates, practitioners, court administrators, prosecutors, and investigators.
He added, “Everybody has a role to play in the system. That is why we continue to advocate that we, the law-abiding citizens, must all commit to properly implementing the ACJA/Ls of the various states.
“This is because the criminals, the anarchists, do not want the law to work. They do not want a society that is orderly.
“But, you cannot have an orderly society; you cannot have a democracy, you cannot have a progressive society, you cannot have economic progress without a sound criminal justice system.
“You can see, some big people of the past are not being required to face the music of the law for wrongdoings of the past. That is how the law operates. Accountability is key for the proper working of democracy,” Prof Akinseye-George said.
Source: The Nation News