The Federal Government on Monday, 6 December, 2021, launched and commissioned newly deployed virtual court rooms in Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.
This concept is aimed at eliminating the presence of litigants or lawyers in court rooms and adjudication of cases online with quick access to justice in order to decongest correctional facilities in the country.
The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in his remarks tagged the Project “Justice flow like a River” said the concept is laudable as it will enhance prompt deployment of justice to eliminate the delay tactics of judges which aids and gives strength to criminally minded inmates to form and carry out attacks on custodial facilities that eventually lead to jail break in some of custodial centres.Aregbesola said the Virtual Court Room Justice will reduce the cost and time wastage in transporting inmates to court along with the stress involved.
He further explained that during the COVID 19 pandemic, government was able to manage the situation with zero case.
He said the project is a novelty that will aid decongestion of the custodial facilities especially the urban facilities due to high crime rates and it will aid the administration of Jjustice in the country.
He commended the Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, SAN for the initiative and also pleaded with all stakeholders in the deployment of the novel project to intensify their efforts to extend it to other custodial facilities in the country for rapid decongestion of all correctional facilities.
He also advised the Minister of Justice that there should be a law to stipulate time frame for justice on cases to put an end to the delay tactics of Judges and reform the judicial system to eliminate adjournment of cases that further delays justice and frustrate those involved.
The Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, SAN, said that the virtual court rooms in Kuje Correctional Centre is the phase one of the project intended to put right the administration of criminal justice in the country.
He said the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to do all that it takes to make sure justice is served to everyone as stipulated by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Commandant General of the Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa, commended the Federal Government for the initiative, saying the virtual court rooms will help to serve justice promptly with ease while also preventing the frustrations involved in moving inmates to courts there by decongesting the custodial centres and reduce the tendency for attacks on custodial facilities and jail breaks in Nigeria.
The event was witnessed by Judges of the High Court, FCT and Directors from Ministry of Justice as well as representatives of UNDP and that of the government of Japan who are partners of the project.
