Malami To Launch Virtual Court Sitting Facilities In Abuja

The Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, is set to launch the nationwide deployment of facilities for the commencement of Virtual Court Proceedings in Nigeria’s Correctional Centres. 
 
The AGF’s Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen on Friday.

According to the statement, Mr Malami is to launch the pilot project on Monday at the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.

“Expected at the Occasion are the Honourable 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 UNDP are working assiduously to ensure achievement of the laudable project,” the statement noted.

According to Mr Gwandu, the initiative is one of the strategic interventions by the AGF’s office towards engendering lasting reforms in the Criminal Justice Sector in the country.

He said the intervention is part of the development of the Consolidated Sentencing Guidelines (Custodial and Non-Custodial) Practice Directions, 2020.
 
“The Ministry in collaboration with the Presidential Committee on Correctional Reforms and Decongestion expedite 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,” the statement added.

Mr Gwandu further noted that the development is part of the process to implement the Post-COVID-19 Justice Sector Plan marshaled out by the AGF’s office in April, 2020.