Justice Reform & Development Initiative

The beauty of our law is that the burden of proof is on he who declares and not on he who denies. No wonder the presumption of innocence is often shortened unto the phrase , "innocent until proven guilty "

In our criminal jurisprudence, the penal code and criminal code operate side by side. The penal code in the Northern part and the criminal code in the southern part of Nigeria.

Killing a person intentionally is termed murder under the criminal code applicable in the Southern Nigeria whereas in the northern part of Nigeria same offence is termed culpable homicide punishable with death as in the southern part of the country.

Where killing is unintentional in the southern states, it is termed manslaughter while in the Northern states, it is termed culpable homicide not punishable with deaths.

Timileyin Ajayi and his handlers and/or lawyers may be playing a legal chess by advising him to plead not guilty to the offence of Culpable homicide thereby building up a defence of killing unintentionally ( culpable homicide not punishable with death).

It now behoves on the prosecution to prove strongly mens rea ( guilty mind or intention) and properly link same with the actus reus (physical act or committing a crime) beyond reasonable doubt to secure the appropriate punishment under the penal code which is death sentence.

Timileyin Ajayi, in his statement to the police admitted to have killed the victim because she cheated on him and that he has no regrets.

It is easier for the camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for Timileyin Ajayi to succeed in his trial.

Justice will surely prevail.

Pained by the gruesome murder of Miss Salome Eleojo Adaidu, the leadership of Justice Reform and Development had written to Inspector General of Police indicating its interest to do a follow-up on the matter to logical conclusion.

THROWBACK TO A ONE-DAY WORKSHOP ON INFORMATION ACT (FOIA) FOR STAFF ON GRADE LEVELS 03 TO 10 HELD ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24TH, 2024 AT THE AUDITORIUM, FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE HEADQUARTERS, ABUJA.

Justice Reform Development and Initiative( JRD) an Organisation that has been very critical on the need for Open Governance Programs-OGP in Nigeria was one of the lead trainers of the participants.

Jointly representing the Organisation (JRD) at the event are Benjamin O. Okolo (Second from the Left on the attached Picture) whom occupies the Office of Lead Partner (OLP) of JRD and an expert in Open and Good Governance and Public interest and Ugwuala, Christian Onyekachi, Esq., (First from the Right on the attached Picture) who is both the Principal Partner of Primetime Solicitors and National Coordinator, Safe & Sound Youth Awareness Initiative.

They exhaustively delivered lectures on:

i) Key Components of Open and Good Governance through the FOI Act, 2011;

ii) Obligations and Duties of Public institutions in the implementation of the FOI Act, 2011; and

iii) Understanding, dealing and Responding to FOI requests/Applicant _a step by step guide.

Expressing gratitude, the Four Directors in attendance(First from the Left and second and third from the Right as seen on the attached Picture) alongside participants, thanked the trainers for the enlightenment, and expressed the willingness for subsequent invitation and Partnership.

Throwback.

A 2-day workshop on the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 with the Management Staff of National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) held on the 21st and 22nd of February, 2023 at No. 2 Zinchinchor Close, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.