… considers community service as prison term’s option

[Punch]

Lagos State Chief Judge Inumidun Akande says the option of community service will soon be introduced into the state's judicial system.

Akande, at a seminar for customary court presidents on the new Customary Court Law 2011 and its challenges in Lagos on Tuesday, said plan for the introduction of   non-custodial sentencing was "in the pipeline."

Responding to an earlier suggestion by the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Ademorin Kuye, that the customary court presidents should help decongest the prisons by considering community service for lesser offenders, Akande said the option could not be used at the moment since it was not enshrined in the CCL 2011.

She said, "The law does not include community service as an option of sentencing for now, so, you are not expected to employ that option.

"There is a plan to introduce the option by amending the new CCL 2011. Until that is done, you need to give judgments within the ambit of the law.

"Recently, we made efforts to reduce the number of awaiting trial persons. We have seen a need to decongest the prisons now, which is why we will soon introduce the community service option."

Akande implored the customary court presidents to study the new law to familiarise themselves with modern trends and demands of contemporary societies.

She said the seminar, organised by the state Judicial Service Commission, was part of efforts to enhance justice administration in the state.

"It is imperative that as officers of the court at the grass roots, it is pertinent for participants to embrace the CCL 2011 by demonstrating a high level of interest and competence in its application," the CJ said.

The state Attorney-General, Mr. Ade Ipaye, who was represented by Kuye, said it had become pertinent to focus on customary courts due to its importance to the grass roots.

Executive Secretary, JSC, Mrs. Olubukola Balogun, said the training of customary court presidents and members was among the functions of the JSC.

 



The Punch