Ngozi Obiachu, Umuahia
Abia State Government has said it is considering establishment of children’s correctional home in the state for the rehabilitation of child offenders, instead of clamping them in the same facility with adults.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mrs Chibuzo Ehimere, who gave the hint during a stakeholders’ meeting on the administration of criminal justice law, ACJL, 2017 in Umuahia, said the state would want juvenile offenders to go through rehabilitation while in detention.
The Permanent Secretary also hinted that the State was holding conversations on the establishment of special register for sexual offenders to serve as a deterrent to sexual harassment.
The stakeholders’ meeting was organised by the Centre for Transparency Advocacy, CTA, in collaboration with the Abia State Ministry of Justice; the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption, RoLAC; and the European Union.
The Permanent Secretary who described the enactment of ACJL as a positive step towards ensuring justice for all, charged participants to help escalate the provisions of the ACJL for increased public awareness.
In his contribution, one of the participants, Dr Sunny Ibeneme, called on the police authorities to prevail on the rank and file to comply with the provisions of the ACJL while dealing with suspects.
He urged CSOs to help sensitise the communities on their rights as citizens.
He encouraged women to insist on their rights and protect their fellow women.
The National President, Ibeku Youth Association, Chief Martins Nwosu, advised the organisers to work with youth leaders during recruitments to avoid recruiting people with questionable characters.
He promised to work with other youth leaders in the state to enlighten people in the various communities.
Speaking earlier, the Executive Director, Centre for Transparency Advocacy, Faith Nwadishi, thanked all the participants, and charged them to help educate members of the public about the existence of the ACJL Act.
The various participants pledged to collaborate to ensure implementation of the ACJL by the various authorities.
Speaking at the event, a legal practitioner and a facilitator, Ms. Kelechi Oluoha-Steve, highlighted the rights of citizens as contained in the ACJL.
She said that the ACJL had introduced some innovations to tackle recurring abuse of human rights in the state.
According to her, breach of contract is not a criminal offense, adding that relations should not be arrested in lieu of suspects.
Ms Oluoha-Steve encouraged citizens to go through the contents of ACJL in order to know their rights, and insist that they be respected.
The stakeholders ‘meeting was attended by civil society organisations, judicial officers, security personnel, community leaders among others.
