The court is not Father Christmas - Walter Onnoghen tells prosecutors

The court is not Father Christmas - Walter Onnoghen tells prosecutors

- The chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, says prosecutors must always be guided to ensure that the administration of criminal Justice act is not subjected to abuse

- He states that the criminal justice system depends on the effective functioning of all stakeholders

- Vice President Yemi Osinbajo stands by his claims about high level of corruption in ex-President Goodluck Jonathan's government

The chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, has urged prosecutors to prove their cases beyond a reasonable doubt because the court is not a Father Christmas.

The Cable reports that Onnoghen made the statement on Monday, May 7, at a workshop for investigators and prosecutors at the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja.

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“I must emphasise that in all criminal trials, the prosecution must prove its case beyond reasonable doubt and this burden is discharged by the prosecution calling witnesses to give compelling evidence against the defendant with relevant exhibits to lend credence to oral evidence as the court is not Father Christmas that will give what you did not ask of it,” Onnoghen said.

“The prosecutors must always be guided to ensure that the spirit of Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 is not subjected to abuse by parties in criminal matters.

“I am glad to say that the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 has introduced innovations such as front loading of evidence at the time of commencement of an action, plea bargaining, limitation of adjournments, restitution non-custodial sentencing and forfeiture of assets, amongst others, are some of the innovations aimed at strengthening our justice system.”

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He said the criminal justice system depends on the effective functioning of all stakeholders.

Meanwhile, Laolu Akande, spokesman of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, has said that his principal is standing by the allegations of corruption he levelled against the government of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Cable reports that he said this on Monday, May 7, while reacting to a report attributed to “Jonathan’s media office” on previous allegations.

Legit.ng gathered that Osinbajo had been accused of lying against the ex-president or his government by citing the looting of the nation’s treasury, while he was speaking recently at ‘The Platform’.

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Source: Legit.ng

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