The Enugu State Justice Reform team, made up of members from NBA, FIDA, TAMARSAC, J4A, Customary Court of Appeal, etc, has made case for the establishment of a forensic laboratory in Enugu State to aid quick dispensation of criminal cases.
Facilitator of the committee, Mrs Justina Offiah, one time Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, who led the team on a courtesy visit to the Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Edward Ubosi in his office, said criminal cases are often delayed because forensic lab is only located in Lagos.
Offiah therefore posited that with the establishment of a forensic lab in Enugu, criminal cases that hitherto lingered in courts would be dispensed with easily, and in the process decongest police cells and prison custody.
She pointed out that because of the non-existence of a forensic lab in Enugu, judicial process is often delayed while waiting for results from the Lagos Forensic Lab.
The former Attorney General said that part of the reasons why they embarked on the visit was to intimate the Speaker about a proposed bill on Justice Reform that might soon be presented to the House for consideration.
She said the bill if passed into law would stipulate the procedure for arrest, custody and bail to be in line with the contemporary time, adding that things change as days unfold. (Daily Times)
