By; FUNMI ADERINTO, Kaduna
Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe has said that the state became the first in the North to domesticate the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, which repealed the Criminal Procedure Code used throughout Northern Nigeria.
Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, stated this at the launch of the State Justice Transformation Strategy Document, aimed at reforming the justice sector to deliver people-centered-justice for citizens of Kaduna State, held at the Government House, in Kaduna.
According to her, “this is a moment that further affirms the commitment of the Kaduna State Government to building and nurturing an efficient justice sector in the state.
She noted, “Justice is a pillar of civilisation, a palladium of liberty, and a guarantee of due process. The institutions of justice protect a rules-based order, safeguarding the certainty and predictability that enable individuals, businesses and the wider society to function effectively.
“Therefore, every responsible government is invested in the imperative of a strong legal framework, with effective and efficient institutions. Since its assumption of office in 2015, the el-Rufai government has anchored its reform agenda on many new laws and a few new agencies.
“Many legislations have been extensively and painstaking reviewed and outmoded laws repealed. New laws have been enacted to reflect current realities, contemporary concerns and best practices.
These laws effectively regulate several subject matters such as crime, corruption, land use and taxation, among others. The laws also help to enhance the capacity of various agencies to improve service delivery.
“Our desire for and steady pursuit of a vibrant and functional justice system, led to the domestication of the Justice Policy in 2018. That policy document identified fourteen themes, thematic challenges and strategic interventions. It serves as a roadmap for ongoing reforms over the past five years. Key areas of reforms include a review of the legal framework and the strengthening of associated institutions.
“In 2017, Kaduna became the first State in the North to domesticate the Administration of Criminal Justice Law which repealed the Criminal Procedure Code used throughout Northern Nigeria. We also enacted a model Penal Code Law, in furtherance of agreements among the northern states regarding the desirability of such a step.
“Under our watch, the Kaduna State Government has taken several steps to strengthen key institutions across the justice sector. These include: employment of seventy state counsels at the Ministry of Justice; Creation of more Magistrate Courts, Employment of additional Magistrates to man the Courts and increasing the jurisdictions of magistrates in monetary claims from N500,000 to N5m.
“Creation of Small Claims Court to expedite adjudication on financial claims and speedy resolution for debt and disputes involving recovery of monies; creation of mediation center in the Ministry of Justice and in the three Senatorial zones in the state, which offer free legal services to the indigent and creation of Sexual Assault Referral Centers to cater for victims of sexual related offences.
“The centers serve as a one-stop shop, providing psycho-social counseling, forensic examination, medical treatment and legal services for victims of sexual assault,” she said.
According to her, “All these reform interventions are designed to improve the quality of justice and reduce the barriers to service delivery.
“The Kaduna State Government wishes to acknowledge the efforts and extensive work of all stakeholders involved in developing this strategy document. The Kaduna State Justice Policy and the reforms undertaken so far, reflect the ideals the Hague Institute for Innovation of Law promotes, especially people-centered justice.
Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe launched the document in Government House, Kaduna in a ceremony attended by participants drawn from different organizations in the justice sector in the state and a team from the Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL) who attended virtually.
