Counsel Decries Criminal Justice Administration In Nigeria

A Port Harcourt
based lawyer, Barr J.P. Ebenezar, has decried the state of Nigeria’s criminal justice administration.
Barr Ebenezar, who made the remark while speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt at the weekend blamed the police and other law enforcement agents for undue delay witnessed in our administration of criminal justice.
He noted some law enforcement agencies were yet to understand that “an accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court with complete jurisdiction on the matter”.
Barr Ebenezar said, “we are shocked and amazed at the way policemen and other law enforcement agencies treat suspects. Some law enforcement agents have turned themselves to courts.
He said many innocent law abiding citizens of the country were languishing in jails for crimes they did not commit.
He said those awaiting trial were growing in their numbers everyday and pointed out that something should be done to alleviate their plight.
The Port Harcourt lawyer explained that some states of the federation were still using laws that had become obsolete in England.
He remarked that laws were in state of flux and would require review from tune to time.
Barr Ebenezar called on the federal government to compel its agencies to obey the laws of the land and do what is right.

Chidi Enyie