How Plateau inaugurated justice reform team, c’ttee for community policing

The Plateau State government last week inaugurated both the state Justice Sector Reform Team and the technical committee for the domestication of community policing framework. The justice sector reform team is intended to drive and monitor the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law signed into law in 2018, while the committee for the […]

The Plateau State government last week inaugurated both the state Justice Sector Reform Team and the technical committee for the domestication of community policing framework.

The justice sector reform team is intended to drive and monitor the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law signed into law in 2018, while the committee for the domestication of community policing framework is meant to explore ways of tackling the prevailing security challenges and how to better respond to public safety.

Speaking at the event of the former which was powered by Partners for West Africa Nigeria and supported by US Embassy Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Governor Simon Lalong said the effective dispensation of justice to the citizens of Plateau State is a very important aspect of his government’s vision which believes in the rule of law.

“Establishment of the Justice Sector Reform Team in the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Plateau State will address some of the vexed problems facing the Criminal Justice Sector. These problems such as delay in the prosecution of cases, occasioned by the antics of defence counsels who often seek frivolous adjournments, stay of proceedings and interlocutory Appeals with the aim of frustrating speedy trials of Criminal cases will be eliminated,” he said.

Lalong charged members of the team to ensure that they make the dispensation of justice seamless so that people will not have any reason to resort to self-help or lose confidence in the courts, adding that he was hopeful that congestion within correctional service facilities often caused by the large number of detainees awaiting trial would be curtailed.

He added that the indiscriminate arrest and detention of persons by some law enforcement agencies and the absence of effective coordination among the institutions involved in criminal justice administration will also be drastically curtailed.

Also speaking was the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Barrister Chrysantus Ahmadu. He explained that because of the work that has already started under the administration of criminal justice law, Plateau State has more convicts than awaiting trial inmates at its correctional centres as some interventions have started.

In a related development, the state government also established an 18-man technical committee for the domestication of community policing framework.

In his remarks at the event which held at the new government house in Little Rayfield Jos, Governor Lalong said the state is desirous of exploring ways towards undertaking a holistic overview of the prevailing security challenges, with specific reference to a community-policing model that can better respond to public safety and security.

“After frank, open and solution-driven interaction that involved resource persons, heads of security agencies, community and traditional rulers, the meeting came up with far reaching recommendations that were captured in a communique.

“Among other things, participants agreed that community policing as a veritable security option should be pursued at all levels, while Operation Rainbow should be strengthened to be a visible channel for intelligence gathering and response.

“Most importantly, the communique recommended the setting up of a Technical Committee by Government to harmonise the presentations and evolve a more sustainable Community Policing Framework for immediate implementation in the State.

“Based on these recommendations, Government has accordingly constituted the technical committee, which has membership drawn from a wide spectrum of society. The terms of reference of the committee is to develop a framework for the domestication and implementation of community policing model in ways that align, compliment or strengthens Operation Rainbow and other community security outfits such as Vigilante and Neighbourhood Watch Groups,” he said.

Among the other terms of reference according, to Lalong, is to determine the organizational structure in terms of composition and roles at the state, local government, districts, and community levels respectively, and to as well outline funding modalities to ensure sustainability of the framework.

The governor said his administration shall provide all that is needed to enable the committee carry out their assignment effectively, and therefore urged them to be objective and put the interest of the state above any other consideration.