Ahmed advocates stiffer penalty for kidnappers

GOVERNOR Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has advocated stiffer penalty and sanctions for kidnappers in the country.

Speaking at the 2016 Kwara State justice sector reforms awareness and training programme in Ilorin on Tuesday, Governor Ahmed, said that reforms in the country’s judicial system would ensure confidence in the system and facilitate expeditious dispensation.

According to the governor, “Nigeria requires reforms in almost all sectors in order to achieve the transformation that we all seek for current and future generations of Nigerians.

“Notwithstanding, its significant contributions to the country’s development and sustenance of democratic governance,” governor Ahmed said, “the justice sector is in no less need of reform, which increases confidence in the system by ensuring that the judiciary sustains its reputation as the citizen’s last refuge.”

The governor believes that “given the fact that a peaceful and lawful society is germane to development, an effective judicial system is also critical giving its capacity to ensure the orderliness and peace necessary for economic growth and advancement.”

While urging security agencies in the state to redouble efforts to prevent and detect kidnapping and abduction in the State, Governor Ahmed call for stiffer punishments and sanctions for those convicted of abduction and kidnapping in the State.

The governor commended the Technical Committee of Justice Sector Reform Team for coming up with the “Revised layman’s Law of Kwara State” saying it is a simplified compilation of the law of the state in simple, easy to understand language.

“The Layman’s Law”, he said, “will increase compliance with the law and potentially reduce crimes and disputes as the dictates of the law become accessible to a wider cross section of the society.”

Earlier, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Kwara State, Barrister Kamaldeen Ajibade, said the Justice Sector Reform Team is an initiative of the state government to quicken dispensation of justice and bring justice to the door step of residents in the state.