Stakeholders demand Police reforms, better funding for justice system in Cross River

Tony Okoh, Uyo

Stakeholders in the justice sector in Cross River State have called for stronger collaboration, improved funding, police reforms and full implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) to ensure speedy and fair dispensation of justice in Nigeria.

The call was made during a series of advocacy engagements organised by Human Rights Law Service (HURILAWS) in partnership with local partners in Calabar, involving Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the Nigerian Police Force, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ministry of Justice officials, the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC) and the Legal Aid Council.

According to a statement issued by the Project Lead, Dr. Innih Archibong and made available to journalists on Tuesday, the meetings were held in phases to deepen awareness, strengthen capacity and foster collaboration among critical stakeholders in the criminal justice system for effective implementation of the ACJL in Cross River State and beyond.

Speaking during the engagements, Dr. Archibong, who is also the Executive Director of Liberty Now, explained that the advocacy visits were aimed at building synergy among stakeholders and improving understanding of the law to enhance justice delivery.

He noted that Cross River State was among the first states in Nigeria to domesticate the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, stressing that institutions responsible for implementing the law, especially the Police, Judiciary and Correctional Services, must fully understand its provisions to prevent abuse and injustice.

Dr. Archibong lamented that despite sustained efforts by HURILAWS and other partners through research, media advocacy, workshops and publications, many suspects were still detained without adequate opportunity to defend themselves.

He also decried poor funding and lack of modern facilities within the Police Force, warning that unresolved injustice could pose serious dangers to society.

“Justice must not only be done, but must be seen to have been done. Injustice, if left unchecked, can lead to doom in society,” he stated.

During a meeting with the Cross River State Commissioner of Police, Rashid Afegbua, the HURILAWS team advocated continuous reforms, training and improved welfare for police personnel.

Responding, CP Afegbua appreciated the advocacy visit and acknowledged the challenges confronting the Police Force.

He noted that current security realities and provisions of the Police Act require periodic review and called for sustained training and retraining of officers, particularly junior personnel, to improve professionalism and policing standards.

The Commissioner expressed optimism that continued collaboration with HURILAWS and other stakeholders would strengthen justice administration in the state.

At the Nigerian Bar Association, Calabar branch, Chairman of the association, Enome Amatey, described the pursuit of justice as a collective responsibility, noting that the NBA had continued to champion advocacy and institutional partnerships to strengthen the justice system.

He, however, identified poor funding and inadequate facilities as major obstacles affecting effective justice administration.
Corroborating the concerns, the Vice Chairman of the NBA, Triumph Paul, argued that beyond funding and logistics, the “human factor” within the Police Force remained a major challenge.

He stressed the need for proper orientation, discipline and continuous training for officers to improve public confidence in policing.

Similarly, the NBA Secretary, Joseph Akpajo, called on the Police Service Commission to intensify orientation programmes and ensure only qualified personnel are recruited into the Force.

The advocacy team also visited the Cross River State Ministry of Justice, the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee and the Judiciary, where the Chief Registrar, Deputy Registrar, representatives of the Human Rights Commission, Child Protection Network and civil society groups participated in discussions on reforms within the justice sector.

During the meeting, Dr. Archibong urged investigators to devote more time to building strong cases before arraigning suspects in court, while condemning prolonged detention and indiscriminate pre-trial detentions.

He further advocated the democratization of the law to ensure the speedy dispensation of justice and the protection of suspects’ rights.

The Secretary of the ACJMC, James Ibor, commended HURILAWS for its consistency in supporting the justice sector over the years, particularly in strengthening the committee’s secretariat despite funding limitations.

He noted that while pre-trial detentions had helped magistrates conduct proper investigations in some cases, there had also been significant improvements in handling confessional statements under the current law.

Barrister Ibor also advocated improved forensic investigation tools, including fingerprint machines across communities, as well as increased funding for the Police and justice institutions.

The Chief Registrar, in her remarks, emphasized that the advocacy was not only for actors within the justice sector but for society at large.

According to her, many inmates in custodial centres were innocent or had accepted offences they never committed due to a lack of legal representation and proper investigation.

She described inadequate funding as a major challenge and promised to brief the State Chief Judge on the need to strengthen the justice system.

The advocacy visits also extended to the Legal Aid Council, Cross River State, where the State Coordinator, Rose Okoi, acknowledged the innovations introduced by the Administration of Criminal Justice Law.

Mrs. Okoi noted that increased collaboration, adequate funding and improved logistics for custodial centres would greatly enhance speedy justice delivery.

The advocacy engagement ended with a book presentation performed by Maria Ukpayang of the Radiant Women Association, as stakeholders renewed calls for collective action towards building a more efficient and people-oriented justice system.

Earlier, Yemi Ofem introduced HURILAWS as a non-profit organisation based in Lagos, working at the intersection of human rights and justice system reforms.

HURILAWS is funded by MISEREOR E.U to deepen awareness and advocacy on justice system reforms in Nigeria and beyond.