By John Ikani
The Nigerian Government has approved the creation of specialised court for child offenders.
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami stated this in Abuja while inaugurating the Justice for Children Coordination Forum, a European Union—UNICEF programme aimed at enhancing access to justice for vulnerable children.
Malami represented by the Special Assistant to the President on Research and Special Duties, Prof. Mohammed Ahmadu said his office had already engaged respective Heads of Courts to ensure that the specialised courts would also guarantee the speedy trial of Rape and Gender-Based Violence Offences.
According to him: “The project’s overall objective seeks to improve children’s access to child-friendly justice through age and gender-sensitive juvenile justice mechanisms and alternatives to detention for children on the move and vulnerable children in Nigeria”.
He further pledged that the Federal Ministry of Justice would continue to collaborate with UNICEF and other donor agencies, as well as respective Heads of Courts, to train Judges and Magistrates on the implementation and enforcement of the Child Rights Act, especially on the effective use of Family Court Rules and Procedures.
The Forum, chaired by the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, has representatives from the Federal Ministry of Justice, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Federal Ministry of Education, Federal Ministry of Health, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, and the Nigerian Police Force.
Other members were drawn from the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, the National Human Rights Commission, National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the University of Abuja.
The remaining members are representatives from the Buni Yadi Foundation, United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC), United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Children’s Fund, Nigeria. International Federation of Women Lawyers, Nigerian Bar Association, Nigerian Judiciary Institute, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, International Labour Organisation, International Organisation for Migration and Office of the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights.
