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Citizens of Commonwealth to Benefit from Improved Justice System
Citizens of Commonwealth to Benefit from Improved Justice System
By: Michael Mike
Nigerians and other Commonwealth citizens will benefit from improved people-centred access to justice after law ministers from Commonwealth counties agreed on a package of new measures and pledges.
A press statement by the Commonwealth on Wednesday read that: “Millions of Commonwealth citizens will benefit from improved people-centred access to justice as law ministers concluded their meeting in Zanzibar yesterday with a package of new measures and pledges.”
The statement added that the package was shaped by four-day deliberations among ministers, with input from diverse stakeholders, including people with disabilities, civil society representatives and leading innovators in the legal sector.
The statement said: “As part of this package, ministers resolved to ramp up efforts to remove barriers to access to justice and address the legal needs of all citizens.
“Key provisions include improved access to justice for people with disabilities, a model law on virtual assets, a new action plan to protect women from online violence and a proposal to eliminate gender-discriminatory legislation.
“Ministers also welcomed an array of new Commonwealth legal resources, including a mediation guide, a small claims court app for dispute resolution and a database for cooperation on criminal matters.
“Additionally, they adopted the Commonwealth guidelines on the treatment of electronic evidence in criminal proceedings, designed to offer member countries a framework to craft national legislation.
“To support the implementation, ministers requested the Commonwealth Law Ministers Action Group to report progress at the next meeting.”
According to the statement, the package summarises the outcome statement issued by ministers, representing one-third of humanity, at the end of their meeting on 8 February 2024.
Speaking after the meeting, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, said the measures were “absolutely critical” because two-thirds of the world’s population lack meaningful access to justice.
She said: “Our discussions have been purposeful, our decisions have been meaningful, and our powerful new consensus allows us to take the next giant steps forward towards equal access to justice, in modernised legal systems, across our wonderful Commonwealth.
“We leave Zanzibar with a powerful mandate which will allow us to take the next decisive steps to ensure justice for all is the lived experience of every one of the 2.5 billion people living in our Commonwealth.”
In their statement, ministers recognised the Secretariat’s tech-driven justice solutions and its work on artificial intelligence as important interventions in improving access to legal information and transforming justice delivery in today’s complex world.
The Secretariat also presented several papers in the field of energy and extractives, including a carbon tax model law and an oil and gas decommissioning guide, which leverage legislation in efforts to tackle climate change and deliver a just transition.
Hosted by the United Republic of Tanzania from 4 to 8 March 2024, the meeting was chaired by Hon Ambassador Dr Pindi H. Chana, the country’s Minister of Constitutional and Legal Affairs, who commended the substantive outcomes.
Officiating the closing ceremony on 8 March 2024, H.E. Hussein Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar, said:
“I am pleased to note that the meeting has recorded a number of achievements, which challenge us to undertake reforms in an effort to ensure that justice is accessible to all.
“I am aware of efforts that the Commonwealth countries have taken to shape its agenda on the rule of law and access to justice. It is high time that you made the same efforts on access to justice through digitisation.”
The outcomes from the meeting will shape the agenda for the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa later this year.
The next meeting will be hosted by the Government of Fiji in February 2026.
Citizens of Commonwealth to Benefit from Improved Justice System
Kidnapped victims rescued, terrorists neutralised in Sokoto and Zamfara
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA (OPFY) have rescued eight kidnapped victims and neutralised one terrorist in separate operations in Zamfara and Sokoto States.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the troops intercepted terrorists attempting to move kidnapped victims from Barkin Daji Forest to Bagega Forest in Bukkuyum Local Government Area (LGA).
It said the troops laid an ambush at a known crossing point between Tungar Miragumi and Zugu village, where contact was made and the terrorists engaged in a gun duel, forcing them to abandon their captives.
“All eight victims were successfully rescued and efforts are ongoing to reunite them with their families,” said the sources.
Kidnapped victims rescued, terrorists neutralised in Sokoto and Zamfara
FG’s student loan scheme improving access to higher education -NOA DG
The National Orientation Agency (NOA), on Wednesday, said that the Federal Government’s interest-free loan under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) is reducing dropout amongst undergraduates in the country.
Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the NOA Director General, stated this in Gombe at a news conference on five thematic areas of the present administration.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Issa-Onilu spoke through Mr David Akoji, the Director Special Duties, NOA Headquarters, Abuja.
He reiterated the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to improving access to education at all levels and ensuring that “financial constraints do not prevent young Nigerians from pursuing higher learning.”
Issa-Onilu said NELFUND was established by the Tinubu administration to ensure that no Nigerian who qualified to go for tertiary education was prevented from doing so, as a result of inability to pay school fees.
According to him, funding which used to be the biggest challenge in accessing tertiary education is no longer a threat to undergraduates and students seeking higher education.
The director general said the administration of President Tinubu had disbursed N59 billion to over 600,000 students that have applied for NELFUND Student Loan.
The director general assured that the era of students leaving tertiary institutions without completing their degree as a result of financial constraints was over.
He stated that the initiative showed that the Tinubu-led administration was committed to improving the wellbeing and welfare of Nigerians by empowering young Nigerians with education and skills.
Issa-Onilu urged students in Gombe State who have financial challenges to embrace the initiative to ease the burden, stressing that the loan scheme “is available to all qualified Nigerians who are schooling in public tertiary institutions in Nigeria.”
Speaking on the thematic areas Issa-Onilu said they include; Government Policies, Programmes and Activities, the Nigerian Identity Project and National Symbols, and flood mitigation.
He cited others as National Security Awareness towards achieving improved security consciousness in communities and National Values Re-orientation for Students of Secondary Schools and Tertiary Institutions against sign-out extreme practices.
He also announced plans by the federal government to support 150, 000 youths across Nigeria under the National Youth Investment Fund (NYIF), adding that N110 billion had been dedicated to implement the initiative.
The director general further expressed the commitment of Tinubu’s administration to impacting positively on the wellbeing of all Nigerians especially the poor and vulnerable households.
On government programmes, Issa-Onilu hinted that over 2 million households enrolled into the Social Safety Nets Expansion, had benefitted from the Conditional Cash Transfer.
He said: “Trader Moni and Farmer Moni were introduced through the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP). These are interest-free loans of up to a maximum of N100,000 for trader moni, while, farmer moni up to N300,000.”
FG’s student loan scheme improving access to higher education -NOA DG
Security forces neutralise two notorious bandits in Benue clearance operation
By: Zagazola Makama
Security forced have neutralised two suspected notorious bandits during a clearance operation in Ukum Local Government Area of the state.
Sources told Zagazola that the operation followed credible intelligence received on Tuesday at about 1:00 p.m.
The report indicated that a criminal gang led by one Senen Hemen, also known as Orpa, was sighted along the pipeline axis between Gbeji and Igbongom communities in Ukum.
According to the sources, security forces were promptly mobilised to the location, where the gang engaged the operatives in a gun duel.
During the exchange, Hemen and another gang member identified as Mzungweve Ichur, both from Igbongom, were shot dead, while others fled the scene with gunshot injuries.
The sources confirmed that the corpses of the two suspects had been recovered and deposited at a private mortuary in Gbeji, while a manhunt had been launched in the surrounding bushes to track the fleeing accomplices.
The sources assured residents that the operation was part of ongoing efforts to rid Ukum and adjoining areas of violent criminal gangs.
Security forces neutralise two notorious bandits in Benue clearance operation
Kidnapped victims rescued, terrorists neutralised in Sokoto and Zamfara
FG’s student loan scheme improving access to higher education -NOA DG
Security forces neutralise two notorious bandits in Benue clearance operation
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