Year 3 ACJL PROJECT
Administration Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) is a 3-year project implemented by the Carmelite Prisoners’ Interest Organization (CAPIO) and funded by Misean Cara. As 2021 marks the third year of the ACJL project implementation by CAPIO, the final year continues from the previous year and focuses on sensitizing the public on the provisions of Enugu State ACJL and support the decongestion of the Custodial centres through virtual court hearing.
For effective implementation of the year-3 ACJL awareness program, CAPIO team on 30th April 2021, paid a courtesy visit to the Enugu State Honorable Commissioner of Chieftaincy Matters, Dr. Charles Egumgbe, in a bid to strengthen existing relationship between CAPIO and the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs in advancing grassroot ACJL sensitization for Traditional Rulers and Liaison Officers in Enugu State.
CAPIO team led by Rev. Fr. Ambrose Ekeroku (OCD) was well received by the Commissioner, Permanent Secretary – Ogbuabor, the Governor’s Liaison Officer and Enugu State Justice Reform Team (ESJRT) Liaison Officer. The Honorable Commissioner appreciated CAPIO for her contributions to the society, made suggestions and expressed the Ministry’s commitment in partnering with CAPIO.
In the same vein, CAPIO on 20th May 2021 held an ACJL stakeholder meeting for effective implementation of the 3rd year ACJL project. Stakeholders’ roundtable was well attended and engaged representatives from Nigerian Correctional Service, Enugu State Ministry of
Justice, Ministry of Chieftaincy Matters and a civil society organization. The various pillars of the 3rd year implementation and roles of stakeholders were spelt out. Discussions centered on modalities for decongesting Custodial centers through establishing virtual court hearing in Enugu state, ongoing review of Enugu state 2016 ACJL, steps for training traditional rulers and liaison officers on ACJL in 5 local government areas (LGAs) in Enugu state, as well as, ACJL awareness campaign.
Key outcomes of the courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Chieftaincy Matters and ACJL stakeholder meeting, is assurance of the unflinching support from the Enugu state Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Enugu state Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service and the Ministry of Chieftaincy Matters.
