PLSG Moves to Protect Citizens against Land Grabbing Through Law Reforms
By Rotmwa Kassam Paulina
In its commitment towards protecting it citizens against land grabbing activities in the state, the Plateau State Government has set in motion a machinery to review the Penal Law by inaugurating the Plateau State Committee on Review of Penal Law Reforms.
Inaugurating the committee at the Crispan Hotel in Jos, Plateau State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Philemon Daffi Esq reiterated the state government’s commitment towards protecting citizens of the state against illegal land occupation.
The Attorney General who spoke passionately decried the recent spate of attacks on Plateau communities describing it as genocide rather than mere herders/farmers clashes as claimed by the Federal Government and as being portrayed in the social space.
Barr. Daffi said “Our ancestors were never defeated in war, our lands were not taken, and they will not be taken by anybody. Let the world know that this is genocide, and we will defend ourselves with every blood in our system.”
The AG gave detailed statistics of displaced communities currently being occupied by strangers claiming illegitimate ownership.
Daffi who emphasized the urgent need for legal instruments that would address modern threats, especially those that facilitate or overlook land grabbing through violence, tasked the committee to ensure that the new Law would provide a legal system that would protect the vulnerable, punished the guilty and holds fast to the enduring promise of justice for all.
According to him, government has taken measures in sweeping reforms of State’s criminal justice system, starting with the Penal Code Law aimed at delivering tougher sanctions against perpetrators and collaborators of land-related crimes.
He added that the new legal framework would also incorporate anti-land grabbing provisions with commensurate punishment and charged them to ensure that the law reflects the reality of modern-day Plateau.
He maintained that Laws are not meant to be static hence they must be living instruments, responsive and reflective of the people’s challenges and aspirations.
Also speaking, the Director Legal Drafting, Ministry of Justice, who also doubles as the acting Secretary Justice Sector Reform Team (JSRT), Shetak Becklang Esq, explained that the process is designed to raise all laws to contemporary standards to meet the justice needs of today and future generations.
Highlighting the objectives for the review process, the Director of Legal Drafting said the review aimed to support the Plateau State Government’s approach to establishing viable justice reforms through the upgrading of key criminal laws such as the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, Penal Code Law, Plateau State Corrections Bill, as well as the Disability Rights Law, Gender and Equal Opportunities Law, Child Rights Law, and Violence against Person’s Prohibition Law.
In his goodwill message, State Coordinator of the Rule of Law and Anti- Corruption (RoLAC) Programme, Mr. Mantim Dala, emphasized the importance of synergy among all stakeholders in the justice sector and institutions to enhance efficient service delivery.
He called on the committee to give Plateau citizens instruments and guidelines that would help the State to safely progress.
The committee is made up of critical stakeholders in the Justice sector and they are drawn from the Plateau State Ministry of Justice, the State Judiciary, Plateau State Command of the Nigeria Police, the Nigerian Correctional Service, State Chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association and the Plateau State Chapter of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria.
Others are representatives of Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission, Disability Rights Commission, Plateau State Chapter of the National Human Rights Commission, Partners West Africa Nigeria, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Academia, Justice Sector Reform Team and Juristrust among others.
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