129 Delta youths in prison custody over alleged rape, others
No fewer than 120 youths across Delta State are currently in various prisons custody for alleged rape and cult related offences, Delta State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Peter Mrakpor said, on Thursday.
Barr. Mrakpor who spoke to journalists on the current crime rate in the state after he had audience with the executive members of the Asaba, Effurun and Udu branches of the Nigeria Bar Association, said the 120 inmates allegedly committed the offences within a period of one week.
While charging members of the Bar Association to partner with the state government in its fight against crime, the commissioner assured Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s resolve in the bequeathing a just, credible, efficient various legal reforms already embarked upon.
On the ongoing capacity building and computerization programme at the state ministry of justice, Barr. Mrakpor disclosed that over 250 laptops have been distributed to legal officers to equip them with standard electronic tool for research known as Law Pavilion.
Assuring his commitment to increasing the quality, a criminal law practice as well as sustain the capacity building efforts so that lawyers in the ministry of justice can compete favourably with their colleagues in private law practice, Barr. Mrakpor said the current review of criminal case files of matters in court to find out the merits and otherwise of each case, were ongoing as part of government efforts to decongest the prisons.
He called for the use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) practice in the amicable resolution of dispute, adding that the state government had trained over 100 lawyers and non-legal officers at the state ministry of justice in arbitration and mediation as a sure, fast and cheap means of resolving disputes instead of resorting to unnecessary litigation of time consuming and fund wasting.
His words; “The state government will partner with the Bar Association members to ensure that the state has conducive investment to strive by promoting the rule of law and good governance in an atmosphere of peace and security”.
