By Precious Oham
The Justice Development and Peace Initiative (JDPI) of the Catholic Diocese of Ekiti has urged Magistrates in the state to rigorously enforce the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) to facilitate the swift delivery of justice.
This call was made during a one-day interactive session between JDPI and Magistrates in Ekiti State, supported by Misereor IHR Hilfswerk, focusing on the implementation of the ACJL as amended.
Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Akingbade, the Director of JDPI in Ekiti, highlighted the detrimental effects of prolonged awaiting trials on the state’s correctional facilities. He revealed that while the correctional facility was designed to accommodate 324 individuals, the actual number of inmates ballooned to over 1000 as of November 2023.
Akingbade appealed to the Magistrates to uphold the ACJL and prioritize justice to alleviate congestion in correctional facilities, stating, “We at JDPI pursue justice. Any individual found guilty of punishable offenses should face the consequences promptly.”
He commended the efforts of Magistrates in reducing the inmate population, citing a decrease to over 500 inmates in December 2023 due to their actions.
In his keynote address, Justice John Oyewole Adeyeye, the Chief Judge of Ekiti State, represented by Abdulhamid Lawal, the Deputy Chief Registrar 1 of the State High Court, lauded JDPI for its contributions to the justice system’s development. He emphasized the indispensable link between justice and peace, affirming JDPI’s role in fostering societal development.
Justice Adeyeye expressed hope for continued collaboration between JDPI and the justice system, underscoring the importance of organizations like JDPI in advancing societal progress.