BY ONORIODE ETATSEMI
THE need for consistent synergy between investigative agencies and the Ministry of Justice with a view to ensuring speedy and effective justice system in the state has been brought to the fore.
Delta State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ekemejero Ohwovoriole, SAN, made the remarks in Asaba, while declaring open a one-day capacity building workshop on Effective Criminal Investigation by Investigating Agencies/Authorities under the Delta State Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2022.
Ohwovoriole said that the purpose of the training was to bring the investigators up to speed with the new law, adding that as security agencies, especially the police were key in justice delivery.
While saying that there should be more engagements with the lawyers and Judges that implement and interpret the law, Ohwovoriole said prosecutors could lose a case due to little error emanating from poor investigation.
He said that three resource persons who were Justice M. N. Obi, Justice Onome Marshal-Umukoro and Justice Anthony Okorodas were carefully selected considering their credentials.
In his keynote address on effective criminal investigation by the investigative agencies/authorities, Justice M. N Obi harped on the importance of proper investigation and told security agencies not to subject a suspect to handcuff except when he or she attempts to escape.
Earlier in their goodwill messages, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) Legal and Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Delta State Police Command, CSP Gladys Imegwu and the Solicitor-General/Permanent Secretary in Ministry of Justice, Mr. Omamuzo Erebe, represented by Mr. Ben Adigwe, lauded the attorney-general for bringing investigative agencies, including the police, DSS and lawyers to come together to synergize on how to move the justice system forward.
In her remarks, Imegwu said that they were often confronted with challenges in regions, where suspects could not have access to legal representation or family support and non-availability of the help of civil society groups.
In an interview with newsmen, one of the participants, Mr. Oyin-Tari Emmanuel Suowari, a Deputy Director in the State’s Ministry of Justice, described the training as apt and appreciated the Attorney-General for his initiative.
