Delta State Ministerial Press Briefing by the Attorney-General and Commissioner For Justice

The Honourable Commissioner For Justice and the Attorney-General of Delta State, Peter Mrakpor Esq, has outlined the achievements of his Ministry within the past one year. He briefed the press of the activities of the Ministry during the Ministerial Press Briefing organized by the Ministry of Information at Unity Hall, Asaba.

Below are the achievements of the Ministry of Justice as explained.

Under the Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration, the Ministry of Justice has received tremendous overhaul to deliver on its core mandate and serve as a vehicle to drive and provide a solid legal framework for the successful implementation of the SMART agenda of the government as well as the entrenchment of law and order, good governance, respect for human rights and the rule of law in Delta State.

THE ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

The desire of the State Government to prevent crime and promote peace and security has also manifested in the vigorous reform process of the various aspects of our Criminal Jurisprudence, both substantive and procedural. To this end, the State is in the process of domesticating the Administration of Criminal Justice Act into a Law of the State. A committee made up of eminent jurists, scholars and lawyers are presently working on the reform of our laws and are currently reviewing the Criminal Justice aspect of it. The Delta State Justice Sector Reform Committee was inaugurated by His Excellency, the Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa in a formal ceremony on the 5^th day of May, 2015 at the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba.  A public hearing on the Administration of Criminal Justice Law took place on Tuesday 9^th of August, 2016 at the State House of Assembly. It is hoped that with the passage of the Bill into law, our Criminal Procedure Law will experience its first major reform since 1945 and this will speed up the justice delivery process and make the state more attractive to investors.

Below are some of the legal instruments initiated by the Executive arm of government through the Ministry of Justice for the law and order and good governance of the State.

MoUS ENTERED INTO BY DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT

These MoUs govern Government’s relationship with the aforementioned Institutions/Bodies and to create obligations, responsibilities and to provide an avenue for further contractual legal obligations if and when the need arises.

1. Delta State Government and Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC) (An MoU to establish an enabling environment through collaboration that will address the key barrier of access to finance to developing accessible and affordable housing in Delta State which will set a growth process in motion that will deliver affordable houses to Deltans)
2. Delta State Government and North China Railway

(An MoU to execute various infrastructural projects ranging from World Class Office Projects to Erosion Control, Urban Renewal etc)

3. Delta State Government and Darcano Integrated Services Ltd and Al’Huda Properties Ltd.

(An MoU to build a Commercial City in Asaba)

4. Federal Government of Nigeria and Delta State Government

(An MoU to provide for a National Social Safety Net Programme (NASSP) involving cash transfers to poor and vulnerable Nigerians in order to reduce the increasing rate of poverty.)

5. Delta State Government and Digital Gaming Systems Ltd.

(An MoU establishing a State owned lottery to improve revenue generation in the State and provide employment/entertainment platform for residents of Delta State.)

6. Delta State Government and Mobile Software Solutions Ltd and Consortium

(An MoU to establish an ICT based on PPP alliance to drive development to the different sectors of the State).

7. Delta State Government and Yutai Li Nigeria Limited.

(An MoU to provide sustainable solar power generation which is to be located between Umunede and Otolokpo).

8. Delta State Government and Alpha Energy and Electric. Inc. & Groups.

(An MoU aimed at performing detailed technical due diligence to identify probable locations, size, technology and initial cost of power generation plants).

9. Delta State Government and Samsung Electronics.

(An MoU to equip an ICT Centre to train 50 teachers who will in turn train other teachers on Information Technology).

10. Delta State Government and Cosmopolitan.

(An MoU to build a 200 bed Hospital)

11. Delta State Government and Multichoice Nigeria Ltd.

(An MoU to provide virtual learning in classrooms with the aid of satellite connections).

12. Delta State Government and Nigeria Institute of Medical Research

(NIMR)

(An MoU to establish a research Centre in Delta State).

13. Delta State Government and Federal Government of Nigeria

(An MoU to establish an incubation centre in Warri).

CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS

The Ministry of Justice through the Department of Public Prosecutions receive criminal case files from the Police Criminal Investigation Department, and the Magistrate Courts for rendering of legal advice on all criminal matters, take over and prosecutes criminal cases at the trial and Appellate Courts and when given a fiat by the Federal Attorney-General, it can also prosecute Federal offences.

From May 29^th, 2015 to 7^th of September, 2016 the Ministry of Justice through the Department of Public Prosecutions received and rendered a total of 1810 (one thousand and eight hundred and ten) legal opinions and secured over 30 convictions on cases of armed robbery, kidnapping, rape, murder amongst others.

DEPARTMENT OF PEOPLE’S RIGHTS IN THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE.

            It is worthy of note that before the passage of the Multi-door Courthouse Law 2012, in the year 2000, the Government through the Ministry of Justice in its effort to carry out one of its cardinal responsibilities of facilitating just, peaceful and speedy resolution of disputes between persons or between Government or authority and persons with respect to all matters in the State, set up the Department of Peoples Rights vide an EXCO Conclusion E.C. (2000) 22. The Department is to provide an alternative to the traditional Court System for dispute resolution.

The hitherto wholesale reliance only on the conventional court-based litigation system with its attendant limitations of technicality, high costs, delays and its unpredictability had in no small measure made the option less attractive to litigants and persons with one grouse or the other with their fellow individuals or with government or its institutions. In addition the court-based litigation option does not admit of all types of grievances being limited to justiciable grievances and disputes arising from a breach of right or duty that is legally recognizable and enforceable.

            There was no place for non-justiciable grievances/ which by our recent experience in the Niger Delta forms the bulk of dispute between individuals and Host communities, Companies and Government. This lacuna only promoted recourse to violence and self-help as a ready means for the settlement of disputes. As is obvious most of these conflicts are economic related and as such generate a lot of tension and emotion which impedes communication and fruitful dialogue. The alternative dispute resolution option will provide a forum for aggrieved persons to ventilate these grievances unhindered. Expense and cost will also be saved and most importantly previous relationships and trust between the parties are maintained.

The Alternative Dispute Resolution centre in the State Ministry of Justice called the Department of Peoples Rights has the authority to use alternative dispute resolution in the following areas:

            (i)         Disputes between Companies and host Communities:

To provide a rational basis for resolving this category of dispute every major company shall be required to negotiate and execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with its host community or communities. The MoU shall set out the social responsibilities of the respective parties as negotiated by them. The MoU shall be attested to by the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice by franking and a copy shall be deposited with the Department for the purpose of monitoring its implementation and settling any disputes that may arise therefrom between the parties.

            (ii)        Common dispute between Landlords and Tenants:

This category of disputes usually creates insecurity of tenure with its attendant social problems for the tenant and his family. Security of tenure is a necessary ingredient of social stability, required for peaceful disposition in any society.

            (iii)       Cases of Violation of Human Rights:

One of the constitutional responsibilities of the government is the protection of the human rights of the individual. The responsibility is carried out by the Ministry of Justice and the Department of Peoples Rights is to help the Ministry become more rights sensitive and responsive to the legal needs of the disadvantaged in particular.

            (iv)       Dispute between Employers and Employees

There is a need to create industrial harmony in the State and the Department employs every method of dispute resolution to maintain industrial peace.

(v)        Any Other Dispute:

Any other type of dispute that may be referred to the Department by the Governor or any Commissioner from time to time.

            (vi)       Public Enlightenment Campaigns:

The Department is also authorized to undertake public enlightenment campaigns to educate our people on the criminality of the prevalent anti-social conducts such as extortion, kidnapping, riots, youth hooliganism, mob action with their attendant criminal undertone.

In the discharge of its functions the department is to collaborate with relevant civil society groups such as non-governmental organizations, the private bar and other interested parties to provide greater efficiency and access to justice for all particularly the disadvantaged. The Department, within the period under review, received 452 (four hundred and fifty-two) cases, resolved 150 (one hundred and fifty) of the cases, 50 (fifty) were abandoned by the complainants while 215 (Two hundred and fifteen) are still pending.

This administration has invested massively in capacity building initiatives so as to ensure that the Department of People’s Rights perform its duties, particularly in the area of ensuring that Companies that invest in our State are provided a conducive environment to carry out their businesses without disturbance from Host Communities. A conducive environment to do business is a great incentive for investors to do business in Delta State. These initiatives include:-

Training of lawyers in the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms. Over 60 Mediators and 15 Arbitration Experts have been trained by this administration.

Provision of laptop Computers fitted with professional legal software and internet connectivity for lawyers in the Ministry. This will ensure that our lawyers spread across the state are competent and well trained to address the needs of Investors across the State on any Community-Company challenges that may arise.

Creation of 25 Mediation Centers across the State by this administration. The Ministry of Justice presently has a Mediation Centre at Asaba, however in view of the several requests for our services across the State, it became imperative to increase the number of such Centres. This will ensure a rapid response time to the needs of investors or companies operating in the State who have issues with their Host Communities and their employees. The need to come to Asaba is therefore eliminated.

Creation of Zonal Offices across the State: In a bid to make justice accessible to all indigenes, residents and investors, the Ministry of Justice within the period under review established three (3) new Zonal offices in the state to prosecute criminal matters, commercial disputes, civil claims, etc within the respective zones. The zones include: Ogwashi-Uku/Ibusa Zone was created within the period under review and it covers Aniocha South Local Government Area and part of Oshimili North Local Government Area. The office is situated at Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area.

Akukwu-Igbo/ Issele-Uku also created under this administration covers part of Oshimili North and the entire Aniocha North Local Government Area. The office is located at Issele-Uku, Aniocha North Local Government Area and;

Asaba Zonal Office was also recently created in response to the compelling need to deal with cases in Oshimilli South Local Government Area (the State Capital)

The creation of the various zonal offices has impacted hugely on the access to justice in the State.

The Policy of the Ministry of Justice to insert Dispute Resolution Clauses in all Commercial Contract agreements between the State and its Investors is aimed at ensuring that ADR is attempted as a first option in resolving disputes.

INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT

1. Renovation of Ministry of Justice Headquarter buildings to make it more befitting and conducive
2. Provision of over 230 laptops equipped with e-library (Law Pavilion) for lawyers and non-legal Officers. This is the first time ever since the creation of the State that the Ministry has taken such bold initiative to equip lawyers and non-legal staff with this number of equipment and tools aimed at increasing productivity and better service delivery.
3. Provision of modern office furniture. When we came into office, we discovered that there was a dearth of office furniture including chairs and tables for officers to carry out their assigned duties which prompted us to order for modern workstations installed in most of the offices.
4. Within the period under review, the Ministry developed and launched its official website deltastateministryofjustice.com.ng where stakeholders and investors could easily access vital information about the Ministry, its operations and innovations especially in the following areas; Laws of Delta State, Legal Reforms, enforcement of law and justice delivery, criminal prosecutions, ADR practice, bills, legal instruments for the ease of doing business in the State, rule of law and good governance etc.
5. Provision of Internet Connectivity
6. Refurbishment of over 5 abandoned official vehicles
7. Provision of air conditioners
8. Provision of photocopiers

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS

The Ministry is currently reviewing all criminal case files to ensure that nobody is remanded in prison custody undergoing trial is punished unjustly. The ongoing process is also aimed at decongesting Federal Prison facilities in the State.

The State Governor His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has signed into law the Delta State Council on Prerogative of Mercy, bill 2016 passed by the Delta State House of Assembly and forwarded to him for his assent and I am pleased to announce to you that very soon the names of the Chairman and Members of the Committee will be announced and constituted by the State Governor. The Council will advise the Governor in exercise of his constitutional powers of prerogative of mercy to grant amnesty to deserving prisoners in the State as part of measures to decongest the already overcrowded prisons.

PUBLIC ENLIGHTENMENT CAMPAIGN

• Within the period under review, the Ministry initiated a Public Enlightenment Programme on TV known as Justice Half Hour. The programme is aimed at creating public awareness for members of the public to respect the laws of the land and also to highlight the role of the Ministry of Justice in promoting peace and security, the rule of law and good governance in the State.
• The 30 minutes educative programme is also aimed at promoting the spirit of patriotism and encourage our people to exercise their civic responsibilities of reporting activities of criminals as well as encourage witnesses in matters pending in Court to willingly come forward to give evidence during trials against accused person. It is also designed to create public confidence in the minds of our people to join hands with Government in fighting crime and the prosecution of offenders.

RESTRUCTURING

Within the period under review, we also undertook giant and positive steps towards restructuring the operations of the Ministry for effective and efficient service delivery which include;

1. Creation of Appeals Unit to take care of all appellate matters before the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court
2. Creation of the Domestic Violence, Rape and Defilement Unit to handle alarming and rising cases of violence against women in some parts of the State
3. Deployment of over 30 DESOPADEC Lawyers to the Ministry through His Excellency’s approval to boost the Ministry’s capacity to meet up with rising needs of the State Government and its MDAs
4. Creation of three additional Zonal Offices