By TAIYE AGBAJE

The Federal Government, on Monday, said it would adopt a centralised national database as part of the measure to enhance justice delivery in the country.

Mrs Beatrice Jedy-Agba, the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, stated this in Abuja at the 2-day Strategic Session for ICT Representatives from Stakeholder Agencies for the Development of Justice Information Management System.

Jedy-Agba, who expressed worry over lack of centralised criminal registry in the country, said that leveraging on the technology is essential and key in justice delivery.

She stressed on the need for efficiency and effectiveness in the sector, adding that in an era where access to accurate and timely information is paramount to informed decision-making, digital transformation has become an essential tool to optimise the delivery of justice

According to her, absence of a comprehensive, accessible National Criminal Registry has resulted in unreliable statistical analyses, with many criminal convictions going unrecorded.

?Certain law enforcement agencies, such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the Nigerian Correctional Service, have made strides in digitising their operations, these initiatives remain isolated, with no unified platform to coordinate national data management.

?The task before us is to develop a cohesive strategy to facilitate the collection, storage, sharing, and management of data across law enforcement, regulatory and security agencies.

?A centralised national database will serve as a critical tool to enhance coordination among justice sector institutions, streamline processes, and ultimately expedite the dispensation of justice,? she said.

The permanent secretary said in line with Sections 16, 17, and 29 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, the ministry had taken steps to integrate information technology across the justice sector.

She said initiatives to link custodial centres, police stations, courts and other law enforcement bodies had been undertaken to monitor investigations and prosecutions.

Jedy-Agba recalled that in 2019, an attempt was made to establish an automated case management system, including biometric data integration for inmates, to alleviate overcrowding in correctional facilities.

Earlier, Mrs Leticia Ayoola- Daniels, the Director, Administration of Criminal Justice and Reforms at the ministry, said that the administrative inefficiencies in the justice system had continued to erode public trust and perpetuate inequities in the country legal system.

According to her, establishing a robust Justice Information Management System (JIMS) could serve as a catalyst for transformation that ensures transparency, accelerates case processing and promotes equitable access to justice for all.

The Country Representatives, UNODC in the US Embassy, Mr Cheikh Toure, said that in order to achieve effective justice administration, Nigeria must curb the data management challenge currently facing it. (NAN)

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