Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied – Ministerial Nominee Speaks

A ministerial nominee appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari, James Ocholi on Thursday has pledged that he will work hard to stop unnecessary delay of justice if his portfolio covered that administration.

Ocholi said this in defense of the existing laws of Nigeria at the ministerial screening at the senate in Abuja.

He said: “I honestly think that justice delayed is justice denied and it injures people and when it injures people they are tempted to take laws into their hands so it not healthy for our society.

“The earlier we are able to address it adequately, the better and if I have the privilege to do this, I will.”

Although he said that no nation could codify laws for every offence, the existing laws are good as there is no room for improvement.

“The main thing we need if fair and adequate implementation of those laws, now some of the laws are beginning to clash,” he said.

However, he expressed his thoughts concerning the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) saying theat the functions of the two could be merged.

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Meanwhile, Ocholi also said that plea bargain should be encouraged and not abolished. He said it will save time and money spent in pursuing criminal justices because the laws on it had not been codified

He added that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act had addresses the challenge and paved way for plea bargaining.

Also, he stated the circumstances where the plea bargain can be proposed, who initiates plea bargain, what the consequences should be when a suspect initiates plea bargain.

“I don’t think we should abolish it because it is very possible that someone who had the privilege to hold money in trust bridged the trust and later changes his mind and says sorry for what I did.

“He should be allowed to return the money, it doesn’t prevent him from being convicted but it solves the entire riddle of 12 to 15 years criminal trial and the state does not get a refund.

“Even when they get it takes about 20 years; some of the cases in relation to the Abacha loot are still hanging which a plea bargain could have sorted them out,” he said.

 

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