Criminal Justice: Counsel Urges Quick Dispensation

A Port Harcourt-based Legal practitioner and Human rights crusader, Barr. Endurance Akpelu has advocated for better and speedy justice administration in Rivers State to ease the glut of criminal matters in the courts.

Barr Akpelu, who stated this while speaking to The Tide in Port Harcourt at the weekend expressed concern over the longevity of matters in the courts.

He expressed regrets that accused persons sometimes overstayed in custody without their matters being heard.

Barr Akpelu asked the state government to confer certain courts with jurisdiction of criminal matters alone so that cases could easily be disposed of.

He noted that in Lagos State   where courts were specialised, justice administration had become better and faster, and urged the State Judiciary to take a cue from Lagos.

The human rights crusader pointed out that Lagos State Judiciary was ahead of other States Judiciary in terms of better and faster justice administration.

Barr Akpelu also called on the office of the State Director of Public Prosecutor to pursue vigorously the filing information in criminal matters that advice is being sought.

He remarked that DPP’s advice sometimes take a lot of time.

Akpelu, however, noted that justice delayed was justice denied.

Chidi Enyie