OYO CHIEF JUSTICE ISSUES THE ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE RULES 2022.

Justice Munta Ladipo Abimbola, Chief Judge of Oyo, officially inaugurated the Administration of Criminal Justice Rules 2022 on Thursday for use in criminal proceedings in all courts within the jurisdiction of the Oyo State judiciary, save in Court Martial proceedings.
Justice Abimbola made the law in execution of the powers conferred on him by Section 274 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s 1999 constitution and Section 478 of the Oyo State Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2016, as well as all other authorities placed on him as the State’s Chief Judge.

The rules, which were slated to go into effect on November 1, 2022, were designed to aid in the implementation of the Oyo State Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2016, in accordance with its aims and purpose of guaranteeing fair, effective, and efficient criminal justice administration.

Speaking in the mini-conference room of the High Court Complex while making a pronouncement enforcing the legislation in the state, Justice Abimbola explained that the major goal of the law is to enforce strict compliance with the Oyo State Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2016.

“To ensure efficiency and speed in the management of criminal trials and the administration of justice, to protect society from crime and to protect the rights and interests of the suspect, defendant, and victim, and to ensure active participation of all parties in order to focus on matters that are genuinely in issue for trial, thereby reducing delays and expenses at trials,” the CJ explained.

Among other things, the Administration of Criminal Justice Rules 2022 cover guidelines for arrest, bail and remand, disclosure, arraignment, case management, virtual hearing procedures, trial in absentia, transfer of cases, stay of proceedings, witnesses, attitude of counsel and court, costs, wasted costs and third party costs, notices, sentencing, and community service.

The Administration of Criminal Justice Rules 2022 also states that the Chief Judge shall assign cases within five working days of initiating the process, the court will serve notices of trial within ten working days, and a charge sheet shall be served on the defendant within seven days in all courts, unless the court directs otherwise.