Jos – The Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) says its Court Administration and Case Management (CACM) Project has improved accountability, transparency and speed within the criminal justice system in Plateau State.

The organisation said the four-year project recorded significant success through digital reforms introduced across the criminal justice system.

Speaking at the project closeout event in Jos, PPDC Chief Executive Officer, Lucy Abagi, represented by Kaduna State Programme Manager, Manasseh Akpah, said the initiative was designed to strengthen the efficiency of justice delivery in terms of “speed, transparency and accountability”.

She explained that the project was implemented in collaboration with justice sector institutions and stakeholders in Plateau State, with support from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.

She said “This gathering marks not merely the conclusion of a project, but the successful culmination of a shared vision that required commitment, exceptional expertise and collaborative spirit from every institution in this room.

“We are driven by the desire for a more transparent and accountable government, as well as empowered citizens for active participation in governance. Our programmes span procurement governance, digital governance, electoral integrity and access to justice.

“Our access to justice programme is dedicated to strengthening and scaling institutional reforms and enhancing service delivery across the law enforcement and justice sectors.

“It seeks to improve access to justice and the effective dispensation of justice for all citizens, foster constructive citizen engagement with government and the rule of law through the deployment of transparency and accountability tools to enhance the capacity of state institutions to investigate and prosecute cases efficiently and in accordance with due process.”

Abagi added that the CACM project had introduced a digitised case management system linking case processes and principal officers within the judiciary.

“This strengthens oversight and efficiency of service delivery within the Plateau State Judiciary. We also set up a digitised case management system which connects case processes, principal officers and all lawyers in the Plateau State Ministry of Justice.

“This platform also strengthens oversight by tracking service delivery and efficiency. Eight courts have been equipped with speech-to-text and virtual hearing facilities in the State.

“The speech-to-text component enhances the speed of justice delivery by providing real-time recording of court proceedings. It also significantly addresses some of the health complications associated with judges’ work,” she added.

She further explained that the project ensured that no individual was left stranded within the justice system simply because they could not afford legal representation or found the process too complex to understand.

PPDC Plateau State Programme Manager, Linda Daze, reiterated that the project, launched in 2022 in Plateau, Kaduna State and Nasarawa State, focused on addressing inefficiencies in the handling of criminal cases.

“The main aim of the project is to improve the efficiency of the criminal justice system. Once a case comes to the judiciary, the Chief Judge, wherever he is, he sees that a new case has been registered and assigns the case,” she said.

According to Daze, the system includes an overdue feature that flags delays whenever files remain on an officer’s desk beyond the agreed timeframe.

“So it doesn’t just draw your attention to it, even your superiors see that this file is overdue on your table. The system also addressed the problem of missing files by tracking officers responsible for handling files at every stage of the process.”

She further disclosed that a similar system was introduced at the Ministry of Justice to improve case assignment, monitoring and the timely issuance of legal opinions.

The project also digitised eight courts in Plateau State with speech-to-text technology and virtual hearing facilities connected to custodial centres.

“As the judge is talking, witnesses are talking, counsel is talking, it’s being recorded in real time. The reforms encouraged ownership within the judiciary, leading to the establishment of an ICT department and the creation of the office of Deputy Chief Registrar for ICT,” she noted.

Daze stated that PPDC would continue monitoring the implementation and impact of the reforms even after the official closeout of the project.