December 03, (THEWILL) – The Federal Government is set to launch the pilot nationwide deployment and use of Virtual Court Proceedings in Nigeria’s Correctional Centres.
The development is part of the process to implement the Post-COVID-19 Justice Sector Plan, marshalled out by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation in April 2020.
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), made this known in a statement issued on Friday by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Dr Umar Gwandu.
He said the pilot project facilities will commence with the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, on December 6.
“Expected at the occasion is the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Halilu Nababa, as well as members of the Presidential Committee on Correctional Reforms and Decongestion.
“The Secretary of the Presidential Committee on Correctional Reforms and Decongestion, Leticia Ayoola-Daniels, working with the representative of the supporting organization, Mrs Oyinye Ndubuisi of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), are working assiduously to ensure achievement of the laudable project.
“The initiative is one of the strategic interventions by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and indeed the Federal Government towards engendering lasting reforms in the Criminal Justice Sector in Nigeria”, he said.
He said the ministry, in collaboration with the Presidential Committee on Correctional Reforms and Decongestion, are expediting engagement with the Nigerian Correctional Centres to make it possible for evidence of suspects in custody to be taken without their physical presence in court to avoid disruptions.
