PCC to investigate administrative infractions in courts

… set to visit correctional centres
The Public Complaints Commission says it is posed to investigate administrative infractions of courts in line with the Act of the commission.

The Federal Commissioner for public complaints in Rivers State, Dr Alpheaus Paul-Worika who stated this during a visit to the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Hon. Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, said the Commission is prepared to support the judiciary and decongest the courts in its task to deliver justice to all.

Dr Alphaeus Paul-Worika informed the chief judge of the Commissions plan to hold a zonal Ombudsman conference to further sensitize members of the public and lawyers on the powers of the PCC as a constitutional body established to redress cases of administrative injustice in the country.

He lauded the chief judge for steps taken to decongest the correctional centres.

Responding, the chief judge of Rivers State, Honourable Justice Samuel Chibuzor Amadi urged the Police to be very diligent in their investigations before taking it to the magistrate courts.

The Chief Judge of Rivers State Hon. Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi promised to work with the commission to ensure cases that can be handled by the PCC are not saddled with the courts that are already congested.

“The courts are congested with cases they not supposed to handle. I wondered why some lawyers will bring cases of debt to the court. These are cases that can be handled by the Public Complainant Commission. We will ensure those cases are transfered to the commission. This will also help in decongesting the courts,” the Chief Judge said.

During a similar visit to the Correctional Service  headquarters in  Port Harcourt,  Dr Alpheaus Paul-Worika  said the Commission will undertake  investigation visits to the correctional centres in the state noting  that the state of correctional centres has been a cause for complaints by members of the public.

The Commissioner explained the mandate of the Commission to the comptroller and pledged to collaborate with the agency to reduce cases of wrongful incarceration and  administrative injustice.
The controller of Rivers State correctional centre , Mr Alex Oditah, in his remarks welcomed the Federal Commissioner and noted that congestion has remained a major challenge.
He lauded the efforts of the Chief Judge of the State  to decongest the facility, noting that most of the inmates in the facility are  awaiting trial, and make up  about 70% of inmates with cases ranging from cultism and burglary.