This is to inform the public and staff of the FCT High Court Abuja that the Court will as from Monday, 19th day of December, 2016 to 31st December, 2016 be on Christmas and New Year recess. The Court will resume sitting on Tuesday 3rd, January, 2017.
Compliments of the season and Happy New Year in advance.
The Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Hon. Justice I. U. Bello, Commissioned the Witness Support Unit (WSU) on the 19th of October, 2016.
The Witness Support Unit (WSU) is an initiative borne out of stakeholders’
consultative meetings with the aim of plugging the gap created by the non-
attendance of witnesses in criminal cases and the resultant delay in criminal justice
delivery. The WSU is intended to provide logistic support to witnesses coming to the
courts to give evidence in cases before the court where such testimonies are
required, especially for witnesses coming to the court for the first time. The Unit will
support witnesses to navigate the court premises and better understand the workings
of the processes and procedures in court.
The WSU initiative is a flagship intervention under the sub-project titled ‘Enhancing
Attendance of Witnesses in Criminal Trials’ within the Speeding up of Criminal Justice
Project. The Speeding up of Criminal Justice project was conceived to address the
problem of high rate of awaiting trial persons in Nigerian prisons. It is a known fact
that over 70% of inmates in Nigerian prisons are awaiting trial, and for many of them
their trials went on for years. In fact it is not uncommon to see ATPs in Nigeria prisons
undergoing trials for between 5 to 7 years on the average; in extreme cases there are
ATPs who have been in that condition for up to 15 years and more. The speeding up criminal justice project was aimed at bringing about speedier resolution of criminal cases in the FCT, and other pilot states in Nigeria .
The Chief Judge who was visibly delighted at the ceremony extolled the initiative and believe that the unit couldn’t have come at a better time than now that the FCT Judiciary under his watch is more determined to make a positive difference. Thus this process will ensure the safety and performance of witnesses in court. It is actually to facilitate an easy way of making witnesses relax and organize in court to testify.
He praised the industry of our development partners who in many ways have shown their urge for a vibrant judiciary. He acknowledged the indefatigable effort by the Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) in conceiving this project. He appreciated greatly the support of the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) under the Justice for All (J4A) programme.
According to the Chief Judge, the facility should also serve as a credible evidence of his commitment to live our vision of enhancing the access to justice, assuring litigants and the court users of this administration’s resolve to service delivery. He called on all the stakeholders especially the Nigeria Bar association to cue into this trend for better and faster dispensation of justice.
On his part, Mr. Yinka Lawal Esq, the Executive Director (Ag.) PRAWA expressed the pleasure of the organization in partnering with the FCT Judiciary in achieving this project. While handing over the WSU Office to the Honorable Chief judge of the FCT Judiciary, he pledged that PRAWA and J4A will continue to provide needed technical support to the unit.
As it is tradition at the beginning of every legal year, a special court session was held at the ceremonial Court Chambers of the FCT High Court of Justice Maitama, Abuja to mark the commencement of the 2016/2017 Legal year calendar of the FCT Judiciary.
The Chief Judge of the FCT High Court and Chairman FCT Judicial Service Committee, Hon. Justice I. U Bello delivered an address on the achievements and performance of the FCT High Court in the preceding legal year and continuous efforts in improving the quality of Justice delivery in the FCT.
His Lordship commended the cooperation of all stakeholders in making the last legal year a success, and also looks forward to their continuous support in the new legal year….see details of speech at Chief Judges corner.
The Hon. Chief Judge wishes all a happy and successful legal year.
The Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Hon. Justice I. U. Bello in accord with the exercise of the powers conferred on him under the Criminal Justice (Release from Custody) (Special Provisions) Act visited the Suleja and Kuje Prisons on the 13th and 17th days of September, 2016 respectively.
This routine exercise was to review cases of inmates with a view to taking appropriate actions which may include the release of awaiting trial inmates who have stayed more than the time prescribed for the offence with which they were charged. However, cases may also be considered on medical and humanitarian grounds as well as any other ground deemed justified by the Hon. Chief Judge.
In this year’s visit which saw the release of six (6) inmates from the Suleja prison and three (3) from the Kuje Prison, the Hon. Chief Judge took time to inspect the prison facilities.
The Hon. Chief Judge while releasing the affected inmates frowned at the judicial lapses that contribute to the congestion of Nigerian prisons in general and the FCT environs in particular.
In his remarks, he (the CJ) condemned the attitude of giving stringent bail conditions for even minor offences that keep defendants in prison custody because of inability to perfect their bail conditions. He directed that any reasonable and respectable Nigerian can take any defendant on bail without being a serving civil servant. He cautioned the idea of granting bail in one hand and indirectly refusing it.
Secondly, the Hon. Chief Judge decried the practice of detaining a defendant on non-payment of compensation. In his respected view, compensation (after sentence have been served), should be enforced by the complainant as any other judgment sum by attachment of the property of the defendant to meet his obligations
In furtherance of his determination to aid the plights of the inmates as regards delays in their trials, the Hon. Chief Judge immediately promised to set up panels to urgently dispense with the criminal cases pending in the FCT High Court Jurisdiction (either in the High Court or Magistrate Court). This move is to enhance the speedy conclusion of cases awaiting trials. The panel will have the end of the second quarter of 2017 to conclude its assignment.
Appreciating the visit of the Chief Judge and his entourage and thanking the government for the inmates’ welfare, the Prison administration prayed for an improved logistics hinting that the non-attendance of defendants to courts for their trials in some occasions were because of the pressures beyond the prison facilities. However, they promised to do their best.
The Honorable Chief Judge of the FCT High Court Abuja, Hon. Justice I.U. Bello on the 29th day of September, 2016 commissioned newly established magistrate courts in Zuba, Mpape and Lugbe.
This is in his resolve to enhance the administration of justice. At his assumption of office as the Chief Justice of the FCT High Court, he resolved to bring justice closer to the people by providing the requisite amenities for easy access to the courts by litigants.
This event portrays his determination of fulfilling his mandate as many more are yet to come.
The FCT High Court as one of the Judicial body of the Federal Capital Territory Judiciary, is established by Section 255 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999. It is under the leadership of the Honourable Chief Judge who is also the Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory Judicial Service Committee.
