The trial of former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu was concluded on time due to strict compliance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) of 2015, Court of Appeal President Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa said on Monday.
She said the effective implementation of the law will curb criminal trial delays.
Before the law was enacted, Kalu’s and others’ trial lasted for over 10 years due to interlocutory appeals that suspended proceedings at the lower courts.
But the Senator who represents Abia North was re-arraigned under the law on October 31, 2016. He convicted on December 5.
The ACJA abolished stay of proceedings pending appeals’ determination.
It was organised by the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS).
Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami, Chief Judges of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Borno State – Justices Ishaq Bello and Kashim Zannah, CSCL’s President, Prof Yemi Akinseye-George (SAN) and the Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), Prof Muhammad Ladan, were present.
Malami, represented by the Solicitor General of the Federation (SGF), Dayo Apata (SAN), hailed the many innovative provisions of the ACJA.
He noted that 30 states have adopted it and urged the others to do so.
Malami noted that the adoption of the ACJA was an initial step in reforming the criminal justice system. He added that the most important part was the implementation.
Akinseye-George decried the low capacity of the criminal justice system to prevent or punish wrongdoing and reward positive contributions.
He warned against trampling on the independence of the Judiciary. Thenationonlineng
Tags:
Appeal Court President