Barr. Darong Expresses Confidence In Repositioning Nigeria Criminal Law That Remains Obsolete

Yakubu Busari

One of the Members of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law Practice Direction reforms, No 1, 2021, Barrister Niri Darong has said the implementation of the new reforms would fast track the smooth dispensation of criminal elements to help decongest the prison in Plateau state, as he expressed confidence in repositioning the remaining obsoletes criminal law in Plateau state.

 

 

He commended the Chief Justice of Plateau state, Hon. Justice Yakubu Gyang Dakwak for the unveiling of policy rule direction.

 

As Darong further stressed that the unveiling of new rules has put to rest some of the teething problems hitherto facing speedy dispensation of criminal cases in Nigeria by extension Plateau state.

 

Barr Niri Darong gave the commendation on Monday, 6th 2021, in an interview with this medium during the unveiling of Administrative of Criminal Justice Law Practice Direction No1 2021 held at the State High Court complex, Jos, Plateau state.

 

 

As the member of the committee set up by CJ for the drafting of criminal law reforms 2021, commended Chief Justice of the state for his mission and vision to bring relief to a hitherto slow pace in the dispensation of criminal justice in the state.

 

He further added that with the unveiling of the new reform law today which was expected to have commenced 1st December 2021, many teething problems are assumed to have been addressed.

 

Niri pointed out that there was confusion on how to go about most of the cases before trial, which usually comes through summons, the motion before arraignments which always confuse issues,as Darong said have been addressed in the New Practice Direction.

 

 

He further said under the new Practice Direction, there is a Case Management Conference which gives room for the judge to fix a date on when the case is to commence both for the prosecution and the defendant, provision for transport allowance for witness determined by the distance of the location, bail before trial, time frame for written addresses and the way to go about it.

 

 

He said most of these reforms were not there before the new one, which had formed a clog in the wheel of quick administration of criminal justice law in the state, but this reform will help to fast-track the administration of criminal justice law in the state.

 

 

 

Barrister Niri Darong however, said with these justice reforms, the judges and lawyers now have a lot to do, stressed that is only those who work extra hard that will survive the reforms.

 

 

And further said that in other states which he described as cut and paste in Administrative of Justice Law Reforms, Plateau state is a particular because of the members that make up the Committee for the reform, more especially the committee chairman, justice Arum Ashom and others who were coming from a different legal background.

 

 

He reiterated his commendation for the thorough job done by the committee to come out with the new justice reform 2021 where section by section of criminal justice law where touched.

 

 

 

“I know that human beings are not perfect, but when the time comes for review, criminal justice will be reviewed”. He promised.”