JUSTICE DELIVERY: ENUGU ATTORNEY GENERAL, DR UDEH ASSURES CAPIO, OTHER STAKEHOLDERS OF PARTNERSHIP
Enugu -The Enugu State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, has commended the efforts of Carmelite Prisoners’ Interest Organisation (CAPIO), towards improving the general welfare of inmates in Nigeria.
The Attorney General gave the commendation when he received the Executive Director of the organisation, Rev. Fr. Jude Isiguzo, (OCD) and his team on a courtesy visit to his office, Ministry of Justice. Dr. Udeh commended CAPIO for the visit and promised that the Ministry of Justice will partner them towards actualizing the justice administration vision of the Governor, Dr Peter Mbah.
According to him, innovative and transformative justice delivery is one of the key agenda of Governor Peter Mbah’s led government, restating his commitment and zeal towards speedy dispensation of justice, working in partnership with stakeholders in the justice sector, such as CAPIO.
Earlier, the Executive Director, Carmelite Prisoners’ Interest Organisation (CAPIO), Rev. Fr. Jude Isiguzo, (OCD),advocated the adoption of non-custodial sentencing in handling minor offences in Enugu State.
According to Fr. Isiguzo, adopting the sentencing option will go a long way in ensuring restorative and transformative justice delivery in the State.He pointed out that most times complainants are more interested to see that their stolen properties were returned or the damage they suffered remedied than the conviction and imprisonment of the offender.Fr. Isiguzo maintained that non-custodial sentencing should be encouraged and embraced as provided under the Enugu State Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL).The CAPIO Executive Director added that timely submission of legal opinions and execution of Attorney General’s final decision on case files would also quicken the dispensation of justice.
Furthermore, he informed the Attorney General of CAPIO’S Centre for Hope at Oji River, which is nearing completion and would serve as a place for rehabilitating and reintegrating ex-prisoners, who had served their terms, back to the society.
He explained that CAPIO works for the protection and interest of prisoners in Nigeria through advocacy for a reformed judicial system and provision of compassionate, free legal, social-welfare and rehabilitation service applying international best practices.
Other persons in attendance were Deputy Director of CAPIO, Rev. Fr. Philip Kusimo (OCD); key senior officials of CAPIO; and the Director Public Prosecution, Ministry of Justice (MOJ), Barr. Ngozi Ikem-Okoye, who, on behalf of the MOJ, thanked CAPIO for their continued partnership and assured them of the Ministry’s readiness to sustain the relationship.
