The Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor has tasked judges and others in the dispensation of justice to always imbibe the principles of?? equity, fairness and good conscience as a way of life, in the discharge of their duties and responsibilities.
The cleric in his homily during the Eucharistic celebration at St Patrick’s Cathedral church Awka to mark the beginning of the legal year in Anambra State entitled ?Healers, called to serve the truth in love?, the Bishop said, “First,?although the criminal has so to say lost his integrity through his or her behaviour, we are still challenged to treat them with utmost respect because of their God given dignity. It is absolutely important to expedite the trial of offenders. The situation of keeping people awaiting trial for years?is unacceptable.? Justice.
“The second proposal I want to make is about public enlightenment. A visit to our prisons shows that some of the convicts are there because they were deceived either by the investigating police officer or someone else to plead guilty to the offence they were charged with in the belief that this would gain them their freedom. .? I think that there is need for public enlightenment campaign to make sure that no innocent victim of circumstance is put behind bars through deceit.”
He also noted that, “I get some reports that minors are sometimes being held in the same facilities with convicted adult offenders. If this is true, we can expect that these minors would come of these places hardened all the more. For the good of our society, suitable facilities for the reform of juvenile offenders should be made available. This is a campaign that all of us should prosecute. But as members of the bar and the bench, your leadership in this matter is needed since you operate an essential component of the justice system.
“My last suggestion, the bishop said “is with regard to crime prevention by addressing some root causes of crime and delinquency which include: lack of parental care, unemployment, the get-rich-quick syndrome and the enthronement of money as the dominant value our society…”
In a special court session to mark the event, the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Peter Umeadi ?restated the need for financial autonomy for the judiciary, pursuant to section 121 (3) of the 1999 constitution of Nigerian and a recent court judgment in that respect.
