Okowa Condemns Media Trial and Conviction of Suspects Before Arraignment

• Inaugurates Justice Sector Reform Committee

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State on Wednesday inaugurated a 15-member state Justice Sector Reform team, urging them to build a system that is truly professional, proactive and accountable with enhanced access to justice.

Addressing the maximum audience at the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba, he lamented the current situation in Nigeria whereby suspects are convicted and persecution in the media even before they were duly convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction.

He therefore urged the reforms committee to train its binoculars on why rather than conform to the maxim that an accused be presumed innocent until convict in court, the accused is subjected to media conviction and extreme ridicule.

However, the governor said that the justice sector reform initiative introduced in 2008 by the Federal Government represents a remarkable development in the country’s judicial system.

“It is a major step forward at expanding the frontiers of our justice sector”, Okowa said, saying, “Developing a comprehensive justice sector reform has become imperative to build a sector that is professional, impartial, efficient and transparent. Apart from ensuring the entrenchment of observance of the rule of law and respect for fundamental human rights, the justice sector must operate in a credible, coherent and consistent manner as to inspire confidence and trust in it.”

FURTHER DETAILS LATER