Chief Judge of Kogi state, Justice Nasir Ajanah has ordered a two-week assizes for accelerated hearing of criminal cases pending in all the courts across the state.
Justice Ajanah said the order was in line with Section 67 of the High Court Law (Cap. 48), adding that all divisions of the High Court of Justice in the state should strictly dedicate hearings to only criminal matters during the period.
In a statement signed by the Chief Registrar of the state High Court of Justice, Mr Yahaya Adamu and made available to newsmen in Lokoja at the weekend, he said the Assizes were aimed at speedy dispensation of justice.
The Chief Judge said that the assizes started on March 20 and expected to end on March 31, adding that the ultimate aim of decongesting the courts and speedy dispensation of justice would have been achieved.
The statement added that the Chief Judge had earlier at an interactive session with stakeholders in the administration of criminal justice said the essence of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, was to enable accused persons access justice without delay.
Justice Ajanah urged all relevant agencies in the administration of criminal justice to brace up and take advantage of the window provided by the Assizes to bring succour to awaiting trial inmates in the state.
However, the Chief Judge stressed that the Nigerian Prisons Service, NPS, deserved the support of all concerned agencies, stressing that its officials needed assistance to facilitate the appearance of accused persons in courts.
Justice Ajanah who noted that the objectives of the Assizes would be defeated if accused persons were not brought to court, urged the Legal Aid Council to scale up its free legal services to indigent accused persons standing trial without legal representation.
While he advised litigants in the state to take advantage of the two- week assizes, Ajanah assured that state Judiciary would always develop options that would not only relieve the court system of congestions but also take cognisance of the fact that prisons facilities across the state were overstretched.
Credit: Nigerian Pilot
