Behind Bars But Not Sentenced: The Role of Computerized Central Repository in Addressing Awaiting-Trial Problems in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Quick dispensation of justice is necessary for every democratic society to succeed. It is encouraging to see studies, concerns and active agitations from people on the promotion of quick justice in Nigeria. Unfortunately, these studies and agitations have not yielded any concrete results. This article examines how a computerized central repository system can address awaiting-trial problems in Ebonyi State. Utilizing quantitative and qualitative approaches of research, a sample of 1,498 respondents were drawn from Ebonyi State. Purposive and multi-stage sampling techniques were used to reach the respondents. Questionnaires and in-depth interviews served as instruments for data collection. After the administration of instruments, data were sorted, coded, and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square, Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient, and multiple linear regressions. Findings confirmed that while there is an uptick of awaiting-trial problems in Nigeria, there are no meaningful provisions to address it despite the fact that provisions exist within the Nigerian legal framework. Regression analysis revealed the Information and Computer Technology (ICT) method facilitates pretrial detention and brings it to quick conclusion as against the manual method. Based on the findings, the study calls for the creation of a computerized platform to automate all the Criminal Justice bureaucratic processes and make them faster through a centrally based computerized centrally repository system that is accessible to all agencies involved in Criminal Justice administration.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a Panacea for Overcoming the Challenges of COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study of Academic Staff Performance in Tertiary Institutions in Enugu State, Nigeria

“…Thus, the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the urgent need to train academic staff toward the development and mastery of skills on how to carry out their jobs online while at home, how to protect themselves from contracting the virus, how to use ICT devices to host e-Learning, how to participate in conferences, workshops, and seminars using online applications like Zoom and Skype. According to Ajah et al (2022), and Aduma et al (2022), ICT deployment helps in the improvement of service delivery, transparency, revenue generation, and accountability in public institutions such as the justice delivery system and healthcare services. Due to the flexibility of ICT in improving service delivery, teaching, and virtual on-the-job training surged during COVID-19 among academic staff of tertiary institutions across the globe (Ali, 2020).…”