According to him, “If the cases management is successfully implemented in deciding cases in elections Litigations, it can equally function well in criminal matters.
“In reviewing the implementation of the Kebbi State Administration of the Criminal Justice Law, 2021, there is sequence, from arrest, to remand, to arraignment and prosecution”,
“With case management in place, criminal cases can be decided in 30 days. Other innovations in the Law include, the provision of allowing women to serve as surety in bailing suspects, not permissible until now.
“Also, the issue of parole which empowers the courts to mitigate jail terms of convicts if they imbibe good conduct while in prison, by releasing them on parole”, he explained.
Zakariyya added that,unlike before, the 2021 Law enabled the courts to award cost against prosecution as what is done against defence, punishment such as, for unnecessary adjournments.
“Similarly, before now, courts have no power to convict and reserve sentencing, but the 2021 Law empowers the courts to do so by holding ‘sentencing hearing’ where the defence can bring appeal before the Court to beg for lighter sentences for clients on account of, like, enormous family burden”.
While speaking on compensation for innocent citizens languished in prisons for 15-20 years and later discharged and acquitted by Courts, Zakariyya argued that,it is the responsibility of the defence lawyers to sue those who gave out false information to the security agencies and seeks for cost of damages.
He said: “if a person reported a suspect to the police,police arraigned him in court and Court remanded the person in prison and he was there for 15 to 20 years and later discharged and acquitted, it is the responsibility of the victim to sue the person who gave the wrong information so that he can claim for damages. It is not the fault of the police or the Courts,but the person who ignited the arrest.
“Why must somebody spends 15-21 years in prison before getting Justice? That is the whole essence of Administration of Criminal Justice Law(ACJL) . And this law should streamline the days of trials. Infact,the rules also says that trial can start and concluded on the same day.
“So, the only problem is now the responsibilities of the actors in Nigeria’s Judiciary. The Courts, the Prosecutors,the Private Legal practitioners who are defending their clients to see how we can manage the duration of our cases in Courts.”