Nigeria: How to Make Criminal Laws Stronger and Effective

Opinion Lawyers yesterday canvassed for stronger criminal justice system in Nigeria to bring it at par with what obtains in other countries. Nigerian criminal laws, which are colonial based, has been described as weak and ineffective to deter crimes in the society. This has been described as responsible for light fines usually awarded in offences from misdemeanours to corruption. Prof Kevin Nwosu in a recent interview with Daily Trust harped on the need for reforms of the nation's justice system. "There is no doubt that our criminal justice system is congested, weak and slow. I think the first attempt at reform should be designing mechanism to free the system from the log jam that it has come to be known", Prof Nwosu said. Also speaking Anthony Agbonlahor Esq. said the judiciary should be reformed to make it as fast as the amended electoral act. He said the criminal matters should be given equal attention as the political cases. He also called on lawyers to stop filing undue interlocutory applications andasking for unnecessary adjournments. He said if the cases are dispensed with within 90 days it will enhance public confidence in the judiciary. "The Law Reform Commissionhas a duty to amend the enabling laws particularly criminal laws in Nigeria", he said. Also speaking Peter Odia Esq. called for the amendment of the laws to reflect present realities. He said: "Some of the provisions in our penal and criminal codes date back to 1920s. We need modern laws for modern crimes. The process of amendment can beinitiated by the heads of the various courts. That is, the chief judges of the High courts and Fed High court, President of the court of Appeal and the CJN. They can send bills to the National Assembly to amend the Rules of their courts. Bills to the states Houses of Assembly and National Assembly. Then for the penal and criminal codes the bill can be initiated by the Attorney General or by the National Assembly itself"