By Lucky Isibor
The Executive Director of Uromi Justice Development and Peace Caritas Initiative (JDPCI), Very Rev Fr.(Dr) Fidelis Arhedo has appealed to journalists to collaborate with the faith based organisation in educating the public on the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) in Edo State.
Fr. Arhedo made the appeal in his opening remarks at a one day workshop organised for journalists by Uromi JDPCI on “Effective Reporting of Implementation of the ACJL in Edo State” held on the 8th of November at the NUJ Press Centre in Benin City.
The workshop is part of the implementation of a component of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) project being financed by the European Union and implemented by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) and its resource partners.
Arhedo who lamented the lack of understanding of the provisions of the ACJL by the citizenry, noted that the knowledge gap hinders its effective implementation and thereby perpetuating inefficiency in the justice system and appealed to journalists to assist in educating the public on the various provisions of the law to bridge the gap.
“The ACJL was domesticated in Edo State in 2018, bringing with it key provisions aimed at improving and modernizing the administration of justice, safeguarding human rights, and ensuring fairness and transparency within the justice system. However, despite its progressive intent, there remains a significant gap in public awareness of the law and its critical reforms, such as plea bargaining, suspended sentencing, parole, and non-custodial sentencing.
“Despite its potential, the ACJL remains poorly understood by many. This knowledge gap hinders its effective implementation, perpetuating inefficiencies in the justice system. It is imperative that we bridge this gap”.
While emphasising the critical role journalists must play in the effective implementation of the ACJL, Arhedo pointed out that the implementation hinges on the awareness and understanding of justice actors adding that creating that awareness rests on the shoulders of journalists.
“The ACJL is a landmark legislation aimed at reforming delivery of administration of criminal justice systems in the state. Its effective implementation hinges on the awareness and understanding of justice actors and the general public. As journalists, you play a vital role in shaping public discourse and promoting transparency. This is where you, our esteemed journalists,. come in. The media is a powerful tool for educating the public, holding institutions accountable, and influencing policy change. Your stories, reports, and analysis not only inform but also inspire action. In the context of the ACJL, your role as journalist goes beyond reporting on legal cases; it involves explaining the implications of justice reforms, highlighting the successes and challenges in implementation, and giving a voice to both the beneficiaries and stakeholders.
“Available data shows that in Edo State alone, over 75% of inmates in correctional centers are awaiting trial, many for minor offenses that could have been handled through non-custodial measures. Moreover, a recent survey revealed that 92% of the public in Edo Central Senatorial District had never even heard of the ACJL. Even within the legal community, awareness is limited. some legal practitioners we surveyed did not have any reference materials for the ACJL.
“It is clear that without increased public and institutional awareness of these provisions, we cannot fully realize the vision of fairness and efficiency that the ACJL promises. This is where our work begins. Through accurate and responsible reporting, you can help bridge the knowledge gap between the legal provisions of the ACJL and their practical application in the lives of ordinary citizens. The public needs to understand how these reforms can protect their rights, speed up judicial processes, decongest correctional facilities and offer alternatives to custodial sentences, especially for minor offenses.
“The goal of this project is to build that much-needed awareness. We aim to reach at least 50,000 individuals directly and indirectly, including legal practitioners, law enforcement officers, community and religious leaders, and the general public. Our purpose is simple yet profound: to ensure that everyone, whether a police officer on duty, an accused or a citizen seeking justice understands their rights and responsibilities under the ACJL.
“As gatekeepers of information, journalists must: Educate the public on ACJL provisions and implications, facilitate dialogue among justice actors, policymakers, and stakeholders, investigate and report on ACJL implementation challenges, amplify success stories and best practices”.
Welcoming participants, members of Uromi JDPCI team and facilitators to the workshop, the chairman of the Edo State Council of the NUJ, Dr. Festus Alenkhere assured of the readiness of journalists to collaborate with Uromi JDPCI in creating public awareness on the provisions of ACJL.
Alenkhere also assured the Uromi JDPCI team that the report on the workshop will be adequately publicised by members of the union using their various online, print and electronic medium.
The facilitator of the workshop, Dr. Michael Iyioriobhe drilled the participants on why the ACJL was introduced, key reforms introduced by the ACJL, the role of the ACJL in protecting human rights amongst others.
“The old system had many shortcomings, such as:Delays in the justice system, prolonged trials and pre-trial detention, prison overcrowding, lack of alternative sentencing options, human rights abuses, arbitrary detention and mistreatment of suspects.
“The ACJL is designed to address these issues by streamlining processes, protecting the rights of citizens, and introducing modern legal concepts. It represents a shift towards a justice system that is more progressive, inclusive, and in line with international human rights standards.
“The ACJL introduces several innovations that improve both the efficiency of the justice system and safeguard the rights of individuals, plea Bargaining (Section 468), allows defendants to negotiate a guilty plea in exchange for a lighter sentence, helping to reduce court backlogs, suspended sentencing (Section 460); gives courts the power to suspend a sentence under certain conditions, allowing offenders to avoid incarceration if they meet specific requirements, parole and Non-Custodial Sentencing (Sections 453-455), provides alternatives to imprisonment, such as community service or rehabilitation programs, which help decongest prisons and focus on reintegration.
“The ACJL also emphasizes the protection of human rights throughout the justice process. It aims to ensure, timely trials and an end to unnecessary delays in delivering justice, fair treatment of defendants and suspects, ensuring that their rights are not violated during detention or interrogation. A move towards rehabilitation rather than punishment alone, focusing on reintegrating offenders into society. In essence, the ACJL is more than just a legal reform.
“It is a tool for improving the entire criminal justice system, ensuring that justice is not only done but seen to be done in a fair, efficient, and humane manner. By understanding these provisions, journalists can better inform the public about how the law works and how it is being applied or, in some cases, misapplied. This awareness is key to holding the system accountable and ensuring that justice is served for all”.
In their separate contributions, journalists at the workshop appealed to Uromi JDPCI to make copies of the ACJL available to them to enhance their knowledge of the provisions of the law to enrich their reports on its implementation. Thirty journalists from the print, electronic and online media outfits, including the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) drawn from the various chapels of the Edo State Council of the NUJ participated in the workshop.