By Deborah Onyofufeke
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, has lamented the high rate of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes, in the country saying it poses existential threat to the survival of the country.

The CJN, speaking at the opening ceremony of a workshop for judicial officers, held at the National Judicial Institute, NJI, in Abuja, yesterday stated that the rate of insecurity in the country has only portrayed Nigeria as a place unfit for foreign investors which will further cripple the economy strength of the nation

He explained that the effect of terrorist related activities, such as, destruction of lives, public infrastructures, private and entrepreneurial investments has continued to project Nigeria as an unsuitable bride for foreign investments.

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He said, “the level of insecurity in the country, “not only exposed the polity’s unpreparedness”, but also “brought a set back to the economic development and improvement in the country’s human development”.

“My lords, distinguished participants, ladies and gentlemen, we are all living witnesses to the fact that terrorism obscures every aspect of economic, social, cultural and political life, it brings instability and disrupts peace and coexistence in the society.

“In the light of the above, we cannot ignore this threat or wish it away. Preventing domestic terrorism and reducing the factors that fuel it, demand a multifaceted response from the three arms of government”

“You must ensure that the investigation and prosecution of terrorism related criminal cases, including ‘of incitement to’ and ‘recruitment for terrorism’, should be based on specific evidence, guarantee due process and fair trials.

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“To this end, it is the duty of Judicial Officer to ensure these matters are dispensed with in line with the rule of law.

“In recent years, there have been practical safeguards and effective legislations put in place to deal with terrorism and other violent crimes in Nigeria; the fight against insecurity in the country gained a boost with the signing into law of the Terrorism (Prohibition and Prevention) bill, 2022, by his Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari on the 17th May, 2022.

“These laws, which includes, but not limited to the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, are all revolutionary tools that should be used as a problem solver to the ever-growing terrorism cases in our society, no doubt, these legislations will further enhance speedy dispensation of Justice and the protection of rights and interest of the suspect, defendant and victims.

“With this extensive legislative framework, there is no doubt that the Nigerian Criminal Justice system will aid in the fight against terrorism within the confines of the law”, the CJN added.

The Administrator of the NJI, Justice Salisu Abdullahi, said the theme of the workshop: ‘Law and National Security: The Role of the Judiciary’, seeks to reinforce the need for judicial officers and law enforcement agencies to understand the dynamism of the laws on National Security.