Teddy Oscar, Abuja
A report of the House of Representatives’ committee on Justice has recommended a repeal of the nation’s Criminal Procedure Act by the House.
The 47-chaptered report, which moved for a speedy criminal administration in the Nigerian judicial system by introducing procedures for implementing plea bargain, is further divided into 494 clauses.
Speaking on the floor of the House, Hon. Ali Ahmad, chairman of the committee, who explained the brief of the ‘Administration of Criminal Justice Bill’ to the House, noted that it is the first time the House has repealed the bill.
According to Ahmad, who enumerate the basic items of the bill, where amendments were made, “This is the high-impact bill that is impatiently being awaited at the highest levels of the judiciary and the bar. It consolidates about dozens and several other pending bill.
Ahmad, who said that the bill has addressed clear procedures for implementing plea bargaining and measure to prevent its abuse, it was introduced because of its effectiveness with speedy trial, as a court can proceed to a plea bargain after establishing some level of evidences, which is similar to that of the United States.
“Defence lawyers can no longer apply for stays of proceeding as a way of eliminating justice delays, even as courts would henceforth be treating cases continuously, without adjournments, once a case is filed,” he noted.
Where necessary, the amendments have made restrictions on the number of adjournments by courts and that ongoing trials by a judge must now be continued by any judge who takes over from one who may have been elevated from the position, as against starting the trial afresh.
While expressing worry over the billions of amounts being spent in an effort to decongest Nigerian prisons, the House also made it mandatory upon chief judges to be paying monthly visits to prisons as a way of reducing prisons congestions.
It also established that a proper documentation and establishment of a central criminal records registry at the states and federal levels and also addressed the accountability mechanisms for awaiting trial persons.
