Criminal Justice Administration: Ondo AG salutes the Chief Judge of the state for the direction of egalitarian practice

HONORABLE ADVOCATE GENERAL OF ONDO STATE GREETING CHIEF JUDGE ONDO STATE FOR HIS EGALITARIAN PRACTICE DIRECTIONS REGARDING THE ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE

ATTORNEY GENERAL AND COMMISSIONER FOR JUSTICE, RESPONSE OF THE STATE OF ONDO TO PRACTICE DIRECTION NO. 1, VOL 1 OF 2024 OF THE ONDO STATE LAW

INTRODUCTION

The Honorable Justice Ademola Enikuomehin of the High Court of Ondo State, Owo Judicial Division, on March 14, 2023, delivered judgment in Case No.: HOW/66/2022 (ALHAJI RASHEED OLANREWAJU KAZEEM V. THE HONORABLE CHIEF JUDGE OF ONDO STATE & OTHERS) and after a thorough consideration of the judgment, with thoughtful consideration of Sections 86 and 87 of the Ondo State Criminal Justice Act, 2015, and Section 35 of the Ondo State High Court Act, 2006, the Chief Justice of Ondo State in Nigeria; Honorable Judge Aiyedun Olusegun Odusola was issued Practice Direction No. on May 7, 2024. 1, Vol 1 of 2024, a Practice Direction directorial; that all criminal cases shall be commenced, tried and disposed of by a court having jurisdiction in the department or district where the offense was committed; that all pending criminal cases that are still pending and that have yet to reach the defense stage are remanded to the department or district where the offense was committed and that such criminal cases are restarted; and that all previous practice directions, circulars, orders or other administrative instructions against the guidelines were thereby revoked.

The Ondo State Government, led by the Executive Governor, His Excellency, Honorable Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, unfolded an eight-point reform agenda of the Office of the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice Ondo State, paying tribute to the court order and the law is given with the utmost observance. The Ondo State Government hereby fully adheres to Code of Practice No. 1, Part 1 of 2024, as it always will.

The Office of the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice Ondo State welcomes the judgment of the Ondo State High Court and the judicial directives of the Chief Judge of OndoState in Pratice Direction No. 1, Vol 1 of 2024, and also assures the Ondo State Justice with continued synergy and partnership with the Executive of the State.

The Practice Direction will restore balance to criminal jurisdiction in all judicial divisions and magisterial districts in the State, ensuring the jurisprudential development of the Bar throughout the State compared to the time when criminal jurisdiction over misdemeanors and capital crimes was centralized at the state. capital Akure.

In addition, the new guidelines will reduce the risk of transporting awaiting persons and criminal defendants held in our state prisons throughout the state to and from the state capitol, as well as reduce the financial burden on transportation, staffing, security, and the armed struggle. guidance expenses of the state prisons. Witness transport expenditure of the Ondo State Judiciary as provided in the Ondo State Criminal Justice Act, 2015, will also be managed prudently as the courts will receive fewer requests from witnesses from outside their jurisdiction.

The Office of the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice assures the citizens of Ondo State that the Ministry of Justice of Ondo State will continue to discharge its duties in the prosecution of criminal cases irrespective of the location of the court in the criminal divisions and districts in the state, and that the Ondo State Government will pay great attention and facilitate the rapid infrastructural development of court facilities across the state.

Dated Thursday May 9, 2024

E-signed
Dr. Olukayode Ajulo, SAN, OON
Dear Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Ondo State