Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has advocated
urgent but comprehensive reforms in the Nigerian justice system,
pointing out that such move would help to strengthen the country’s
nascent democracy, impact positively on the lives of citizens and as
well boost the country’s image.
Governor Ugwuanyi regretted that despite all efforts to reform the
justice sector, there are still challenges in areas of prison
congestion, abuses by law enforcement agencies and delay in the
dispensation of justice in the country.
Speaking through his deputy, Hon. Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, at the Nike
Lake Resort Hotel, Enugu, during a parley of a network of Justice
Reform teams, Governor Ugwuanyi urged participants to discuss ways of
achieving consistency, synergy and fruitful collaboration in the
pursuit of the desired reforms in the justice sector.
According to him, “I believe the meeting would afford the various
Justice Reform Teams the opportunity to find ways of achieving
consistency, synergy and fruitful collaborations in the pursuit of the
desired reforms in the justice sector.”
He enjoined the participants to adopt a common approach to the issues
of membership, legal mandate, funding, administration and leadership
which are central to the efficacy of the operations and programmes.
He noted that reformation of justice sector is a prominent component
of the state government.
Governor Ugwuanyi added that his administration’s efforts in the area
of Justice Transformation through its collaboration and partnership
with development partners like the United State Department for
International Development (DFID) and Justice for All have been most
rewarding.
In an address, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for
Justice, Chief Miletus Eze said that the state keyed into Justice
Reforms in 2002 when it established the Enugu State Reform Team
(ESJRT) under the auspices of the “Access to Justice” programme of
United State Department for International Development (DFID)
He added that the present administration of Governor Ugwuanyi is
interested and ready to work with and support the State Justice Reform
Team because of its alignment of its strategic goals with the 4-point
agenda of the administration.
In his words, “Security and Justice is germane to the issue of good
governance and improved economic conditions in the state.”
According to Chief Eze, the interventions carried out by ESJRT since
its inception has resulted in a quantum leap in the justice sector
reform process and justice delivery in the state.
He enumerated some of the activities implemented by ESJRT in
collaboration with Justice for All as sensitization workshop for
justice sector, renovation of Magistrates Complex and Case Management
system in DPP’s Office and extension of same to High Court among
others.
In an address the Chairman of the meeting and the national programme
manager, Justice for All, Dr. Bob Arnot assured that Justice for All
is committed towards taking justice to the grass-root and making it
accessible for all by removing all bottle necks associated with
rendering justice.
He added that the key aim of the meeting was to see how justice reform
can be generalized to all states in the country.