In furtherance to the implementation of the “Support to the Justice Sector in Nigeria”, a project funded by the European Union (EU), the United Nations office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has established Judiciary Research Centres in Osogbo in Osun State and Calabar in Cross River State.
While finishing touches are being put to the centre in Calabar, the one in Osogbo has been completed and was recently commissioned. A typical centre is basically an electronic library meant to speed up and make judicial research more effective and convenient.
In Calabar, Mr James Ibor, Liaison Officer, Justice Sector Reform Project, UNODC in Cross River State, disclosed that the JRC is 80% completed, and awaiting delivery of some equipment for it to be officially unveiled and eventually operational. According to him, the IT staffs that will operate the centre have been trained by the UNODC and are ready to commence work.
The facility is located within the premises of the Cross River State Judiciary (CRSJ) in Calabar.
Josephine Effiom, Secretary to the Chief Registrar, CRSJ and one of the trainees at the recently-held UNODC/EU JRC workshop, said that the Calabar JRC occupies two separate rooms.
“There are a total of 35 seats, with the first room accommodating nine persons and most of the technical equipment line the inverters and batteries. The space in other room is completed devoted to researchers and can seat up to 24 persons. We are expecting the delivery of the computers,” she stated.
In Osogbo, Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State inaugurated the centre at the Osun High Court premises in the state capital.
Gov. Aregbesola lauded the EU and UNODC for establishing a modern Judiciary Research Centre in the state, as well as for their support in the judiciary sector.
Aregbesola assured the EU and UNODC that his administration would continue to ensure synergy with the judiciary toward effective use of the ICT facilities for justice delivery.
He said the centre would encourage more researchers to carry out more research in the best interest of the entire citizenry.
According to him, ICT is playing vital roles in the development of any nation and it is the role of the judiciary workers to maintain the equipment adequately.
Aregbesola also directed the Ministry of Science and Technology to ensure that Osun citizens outside the state capital have easy access to the facilities.
Chief Judge of the state, Mrs Oyebola Adepele Ojo, praised the EU for assisting the Federal Government to improve justice delivery, especially in Osun.
Ojo said the centre would be of immense benefit to judges, magistrates, lawyers, and other relevant stakeholders in the judicial cycle.
She said that the centre would go a long way in boosting research and improving justice delivery system in the state.
Ms Christiana Albertin, the UNODC Nigeria representative, said the organisation would continue to support the Federal Government on projects that would benefit the citizenry.
The project was funded by EU under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) in conjunction with the UNODC).
