By Our Reporter
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa state has commended the efforts of a Non-Governmental Organization, Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) in improving administration of justice in the state.
Gov. Sule gave the commendation at the Nasarawa state Multi Stakeholders Access to Justice Town hall meeting and Public Presentation of Criminal Justice Rules in Nasarawa state organized by PPDC in Lafia.
Governor Sule, represented by the state’s Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Labaran Magaji equally acknowledged the efforts of PPDC in ensuring seamlessness amongst all the justice sectors in Nasarawa state.
He said the state had witnessed tremendous development through the collaboration between the state government, critical stakeholders in the justice sector and PPDC, which enhanced technological application in the state’s justice sector.
“With the exposure of the period of six months of the PPDC project in Nasarawa state especially targeting the Karu local government axis we have certainly witnessed more improvement in the delivery of justice in Nasarawa state,. We appreciate you for that,” he said.
He then assured the PPDC team that his administration is ever ready to give them the platform and enablement to carry out their duties, assignments and execute their project for the benefit of humanity.
In his address, Justice Sidi Bage (Rtd), Emir of Lafia also appreciated PPDC for making it very easy for people of Nasarawa state to have access to justice through Information Communication Technology (ICT).
Bage who however decried the lack of proper management of court by judges which he said was the case in the past added that judges were allowing counsels and others to steal their powers through unnecessary adjournments.
He urged judges to take advantage of the improved technology now available to fast track quick dispensation of justice to the people.
Justice Simon Aboki, a judge of the Nasarawa state High Court and Chairman, Project Advisory Committee, Access to Justice, Nasarawa State applauded the PPDC and said the technology brought to the judicial system was unprecedented as judges can now dispense justice from any part of the world.
In his welcome address, Mr Jubilee Shittu, Chief Executive Officer, PPDC, represented by Mrs Ife Olatunji-Davids, Senior Programme Manager for Governance of PPDC said when individuals access had to justice, they could enforce their rights, resolve disputes peacefully and hold institutions accountable.
He said his organization in partnership with the United States Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics Law Enforcement Affairs (INal) are committed to addressing the challenges of the quick dispensation and administrative justice system in Nigeria.
“These challenges will be addressed through two key projects which are: Court Administration and Case Management (CACM) and Reforming Pre-Trial Detention in Nigeria (RPDN). PPDC is working to improve access to justice in Nasarawa State,” he said.
He thanked the state government for the support they have provided including committing some of the state’s resources to support the deployment and sustainability of some of these interventions.
“We also thanked the state government for ensuring the expansion of the current interventions to some additional locations including Karu.
“I would like to announce that PPDC has received support from INL to complement the commitments and also to add the creation of an additional secretarial pool in Mararaba, and the expansion of the digital case management system across all superior courts,” he added.
He explained that CACM project seeks to strengthen court administration and case management practices, leading to more efficient and accountable courts while the RPDN project focuses on reforming pre-trial detention practices to promote the use of non-custodial measures.
He also pointed out that the town hall meeting served as a platform to: showcase the CACM score cards which highlights the progress made on the CACM project through PPDC’s collaboration with the state government.