Group urges full implementation of criminal justice law in Imo

A civil society group in Imo State has called on stakeholders to ensure the full implementation of the state’s Administration of Criminal Justice Law, beginning with the establishment of the Imo State Justice Sector Reform Team as provided in the statute.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Owerri over the weekend, the chairperson of the state-level working group on the law, Ogochukwu Uzoechi, said the Administration of Criminal Justice Law No. 2 of 2020 was enacted to reform and strengthen the criminal justice system in the state.

She noted that while the law contains progressive provisions aimed at ensuring fairness, efficiency, accountability, and respect for human rights, many of those provisions remain unimplemented.

Uzoechi explained that her group, which operates voluntarily without salaries, is dedicated to advancing access to justice and ensuring faithful implementation of the law. She said the group’s activities are supported by the CLEEN Foundation and the Norwegian Embassy, enabling public awareness campaigns, advocacy for better access to justice, capacity building for enforcement, and legal aid for indigent defendants.

The chairperson stressed that the law calls for collaboration among all criminal justice stakeholders, including the police, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, legal practitioners, the judiciary, correctional services, and civil society organisations.

She further noted that the law governs every stage of criminal proceedings, from arrest and investigation to trial, judgment, and the treatment of convicted persons. She highlighted its provisions on non-custodial measures and restorative justice, which allow for alternatives such as probation and community service instead of imprisonment.

The law also provides clear guidelines on arrests, requiring law enforcement to act professionally, respect human dignity, and avoid excessive force, as every suspect remains a citizen entitled to constitutional protection.