A 15-man Justice Sector Reform Team has been knocked together by Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, with a charge to the members to build a sector that is professional, impartial, efficient and transparent.
Okowa, who inaugurated the Team on Wednesday in Asaba, the state capital, advised the team to ensure effective access to justice, and to make the sector more proactive, responsive and accountable to society.
The team comprising of serving judges, members of the Bar and representatives of the Prison, Police, House of Assembly and non-governmental organizations, is headed by Justice Godwin Briki-Okolosi.
“Developing a comprehensive justice sector reform has become imperative to build a sector that is professional, impartial, efficient and transparent, the justice sector must operate in a credible, coherent and consistent manner as to inspire confidence and trust in it”, he said.
He added: “It is my expectation that the justice sector reform should focus serious attention on the justice system, criminal justice, and access to justice and enforcement of court decisions within reasonable periods, and the integrity of the actors in the justice sector. The issue of arrest before investigation which is fraught with a lot of abuses and encourages impunity should be addressed.
He commended the National Justice Reform Team for its effort to bring justice reforms in the country and embarking on this nationwide advocacy to invite relevant stakeholders to improve the institutional framework and process to ensure effective access to justice, and to make the sector more proactive, responsive and accountable to society.
Okowa decried the current specter of media trial and persecution and called for it to be addressed in the justice sector reforms as it diminishes our humanity.
Besides, Peter Mrakpor, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, said that the retreat would enable the state reform its justice sector and ensure that judicial service delivery would be effective and efficient.
Goodwill messages were equally presented at the inauguration, commending the state government for the initiative which they described as a step in the right direction and pledged to support the state in the justice sector reforms.
Among those who presented goodwill messages were Taiwo Abidogun, Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice and Chairman, Federal Justice Sector Reform Coordinating Committee, represented by Felix Ota-Okojie, Dr. Bob Arnot, National Programme Manager, Justice For All programme, Rume Izeze, Chairman, Delta State House of Assembly Committee on Rules, Business, Legal and Judicial Matters and Justice Marshal Umukoro, Chief Judge Delta State.
Justice Briki-Okolosi, who responded on behalf of members of his team, expressed appreciation to Governor Okowa for the appointment and promised to ensure prompt delivery on their mandate.