The Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) has announced its plans to inaugurate two Access to Justice projects, specifically focusing on Court Administration and Case Management, with the aim of promoting efficiency within the Nigerian justice system.
Mr. Kenechukwu Agwu, the Senior Programme Manager for Access to Justice at PPDC, revealed the objectives of these initiatives in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. He emphasized that the primary goal of the projects is to enhance the Nigerian judiciary system.
“In August, we successfully secured the second project, known as the phase II of the Reforming Pre-Trial Detention in Nigeria Project,” Mr. Agwu explained. “This project is designed to support the Nigerian government in reforming the way ‘Pre-Trial Detention’ is processed in the country.”
Mr. Agwu went on to highlight the critical issue of a substantial percentage of inmates (ranging from 65 to 80 percent) in Nigerian detention facilities being individuals awaiting trial, commonly referred to as Pre-Trial detainees. These detainees often spend years in detention, uncertain about their legal status.
The second phase of the project aims to collaborate with the Chief Justices of various states to examine and enhance the processes and systems related to access to justice. Mr. Agwu further noted that the PPDC would provide legal services to approximately 1,750 detainees across five states where the project is currently being implemented: Adamawa, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kaduna, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The PPDC envisions expanding the project to cover all 36 states in the future.
“We are also looking at supporting the Nigerian Correctional Service by enhancing the Correction Information Management System (CIMS), which has demonstrated great potential,” Mr. Agwu explained. “For example, during an incident when detainees escaped from the Kuje Correctional Service, CIMS was instrumental in circulating information about the escapees, including their names, pictures, and fingerprints.”
Mr. Agwu emphasized the goal of improving the CIMS system and developing additional modules, including legal representation. The PPDC aims to ensure coordination among various agencies responsible for the justice system.
On November 7, PPDC will inaugurate the Phase II of its projects, bringing together citizens and stakeholders to discuss the state of access to justice in Nigeria. This initiative is designed to support the development and deployment of improved, timely, effective, and transparent Court Administration and Case Management Systems (CACMS) within Nigeria’s judiciary and related law enforcement and justice institutions.
