Enugu CJ Assures On Human Rights Protection

The Enugu State Acting Chief Judge, Justice Raymond Ozoemena, has said that the judiciary would uphold all measures meant to protect human rights in the state.
 Justice Ozoemena gave the assurance in Enugu last Wednesday while declaring open a three-day training on the Implementation of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015 and Human Rights for Officials of Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigeria Police Force and Judiciary.
  According to him,  the judiciary was committed to justice and fairness in the discharge of its duties by ensuring that perpetrators of human rights violations receive their deserved justice and their victims’ appropriate remedy.
 His words:”I wish to categorically state that Enugu State Judiciary is a committed partner and will continue to support and offer whatever assistance required in ensuring that the rights of Nigerians are not violated as well as incidents of human rights abuses becomes a thing of the past”.
 He reasoned that through the engagement of stakeholders in the justice sector; the judiciary, its affiliate agencies and actors can achieve a very robust, fair and efficient criminal justice system.
 “It is therefore very important that we continue to work together to ensure that we protect the rights of every individual in the society. This can only be achieved through an efficient and effective criminal justice administration.
 “I implore all participants to fully engage the resource persons and other participants on the areas of concern to enable us to achieve a better and more efficient justice system,’’ he said.
Ozoemena also appreciated the Swiss Embassy in Nigeria; the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime and UCHEFEM Consultancy Ltd for organising the training for the justice sector stakeholders in the state.
 Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of UCHEFEM Consultancy Ltd, Mr Uche Owete, said that the training was meant to increase interdependence, cross-sectorial coordination, competences and capacities of major criminal justice actors to effect serious and durable changes in the sector.
 “This is for the overall benefit of the Nigerian Correctional Service and the justice system”.
 He further maintained that assurance of shared responsibility by these actors with a view to changing the justice landscape and reducing human rights violations would be achieved through this training.

By: Canice Amadi, Enugu