(By Ankeli EmmanuelI Sokoto State)
Sokoto State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Aishatu Ahmad Kaoje, on Thursday, appealed for the abolition of the current prison calendar while sentencing convicts in Nigeria.
Aishatu made the appeal at the CLEEN Foundation Town Hall Meeting "'For Effective Implementation, Sustainably of ACJL Regime In Nigeria"' held at Pinnacle Hotel and Resort, Sokoto, the DPP argued that the prison calendar is not adding value to the justice system.
""In my own view, the prison calendar is not adding value to sentencing weight in the legal system. This is because of the position that 8 months makes a year in the prison circle and not the original 12 months"", the DPP appealed.
Speaking earlier on Challenges, Success Stories and Lessons learnt in the AacJL implemtation, participants who were drawn from the Nigeria Police Force, Ministry of Justice, ACJL monitoring Committee, NBA, Legal Aid Council, CSOs, NCoS, and FIDA amongst others observed that there is the need to put all machinery in place for ACJL unhindered Implementation.
The therefore appealed to the State Government to support the ACJL by providing the necessary gadgets to security agencies in the state to help fast track smooth implemtation of the ACJL.
Responding to several questions raised by participants' at the town hall meeting, the state Chief Judge, Justice Saidu Sifawa represented by Professor, Justice Muawiya Dahiru Mahmud submitted that ACJL being Procedural Law is simply aimed providing manual for prosecutors, lawyers and judges on how the Substantive Laws should be applied.
At the end of the 3 day workshop, participants drafted out work plan to include, advocacy visit to the State Chief Judge, Attorney General, Judges and Magistrates on compliance with Section 16(4) and 17(2), encourage monthly visit to Prison/Correctional centers.
They also agreed to pay advocacy visit the Sokoto state government on the need for budgetary allocation for ACJL implemtation, as well as visiting the Commissioner of Police for quarterly submission of arrest report to the State Attorney General amongst other issues. NNL.
