- Commissions virtual court rooms at Kuje Correctional Centre
By Frank Momodu
The Federal Government through the Ministry of Interior is concluding arrangement to partner the California National Guard from the United States (U.S) for capacity training and development for its fire-fighters.
The assistance, the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, averred is highly needed to ensure that it curtails the destruction of lives and properties in our forests and homes when incidences of wide fire disasters occur.
Aregbesola, disclosed this during the meeting with a delegation from the California National Guard headed by Major-General David S. Baldwin, Adjutant General and his team on a visit today in Abuja.
The Minister, stressed that inter-agency operations of the Federal Fire Service and that of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps is very necessary to protect armless Fire fighters at the frontline of duty.
This will no doubt go a long way protecting them from being attacked during official operations of fire rescue missions.
He opined that before embarking on any rescue mission by our Federal Fire Service officers he expects that the Armed Squad of the NSCDC to first be on ground to clear the way for our fire fighters to ease their rescue operation and to avoid being killed or harmed since they are not armed.
The Minister, requested the National Guard to assist our Agencies on inter-agency operations to enhance their capabilities to manage wide and huge fire incidences,” The aim of Humanity is to benefit from people’s experiences and be better prepared towards such occurrences, thereby putting timely necessary remedy in place.”
Aregbesola, hopes that a team should be arranged to work with the Federal Fire Service officers and the Nigerian Air force Crew to develop a skill to do bulk planning that will provide tangible solutions and to also provide facilities such as aircraft to deal with huge wide fire disasters” Aregbesola added.
The Permanent Secretary of Interior, Dr. Shuaib Belgore in his welcome remarks said that the visit of the California Guard would have been earlier, but for the global COVID-19 pandemic, that’s why its holding now.
Belgore revealed that the Ministry and all its Services will be in Ilorin this week for the 2nd Annual Ministerial Retreat to address and discuss security grey areas thereby coming up with better strategies that will definitely improve internal security management in Nigeria.
In a remark, Baldwin, expressed appreciation to the Minister, the Permanent Secretary, the CGs of the agencies and all management staff of the Ministry who had made out time to discuss the issue of collaboration on the Internal Security of Nigeria, particularly the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on the training and retraining of its personnel to improve their security capabilities.
Hon. Aliyu Gebi, in overview, recalled that the relationship between the Ministry and CNG, started with former American President, Barrack Obama for Nigeria to gain experience from their wealth of knowledge, particularly in their activities as it relates to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Meanwhile, government has commissioned the newly deployed virtual Court rooms in Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja today Monday.
This concept is aimed according to the Ministry’s Spokesperson, Mrs. Blessing Lere-Adam, is geared towards eliminating the presence of litigants or lawyers in the Court rooms and adjudication of cases online with quick access to justice in order to decongest correctional facilities in the country.
She quoted the Minister, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, as saying: “Justice flow like a River” stressing that the concept is laudable as it will enhance prompt deployment of justice to eliminate the delay tactics of judges which aids and gives strength to criminally minded Inmates to form and carry out attacks on Custodial facilities that eventually lead to jail break in some of our Custodial Centres.
Aregbesola, said the Virtual Court Room Justice will reduce the cost and time wastage in transporting Inmates to court along with the stress involved.
He further explained that during the COVID 19 Pandemic, government was able to manage the situation with zero case.
He said the project is a novelty that will aid decongestion of the Custodial facilities especially the urban facilities due to high crime rates and it will aid the Administration of Justice in the country.
He commended the Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, SAN for the initiative and also pleaded with all stakeholders in the deployment of the novel project to intensify their efforts to extend it to other custodial facilities in the country for rapid decongestion of all correctional facilities.
He also advised the Minister of Justice that there should be a law to stipulate a time frame for justice on cases to put an end to the delay tactics of Judges and reform the judicial system to eliminate adjournment of cases that further delays justice and frustrate those involved.
The Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami SAN said that the Virtual Court rooms in Kuje Correctional Centre is the phase one of the project intended to put right the administration of criminal justice in the country. He said the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to do all that it takes to make sure justice is served to everyone as stipulated by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Commandant General of the Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa, while commending government, said the virtual court rooms will help to serve justice promptly with ease and it will also prevent the frustrations involved in moving Inmates to courts there by decongesting the Custodial Centres and reduce the tendency for attacks on Custodial facilities and jail breaks in Nigeria.
The event was witnessed by Judges of the High Court, FCT and Directors from Ministry of Justice with the representatives of UNDP and that of the government of Japan who are partners of the project.
