By Chinelo Okeke :
To help the lawyers become more effective in their practices and call to duties especially in the area of prosecutions and cross examination the Ministry of Justice Anambra State has organised a 1-day training for State Councils.
The training was held in Awka on July 26.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Chika Ifemeje while declaring the training open stressed on the need for commitment and dedication to duty.
She noted that they are defending the state therefore should make the interest of the state to go above theirs.
The commissioner enjoined all to listen attentively in order to learn from prominent speakers and facilitators, which are made up of a Judge, a retired State Council and a medical doctor.
She applauded Gov. Chukwuma Soludo for collaborating with the judiciary and legislature, “to promulgate appropriate laws and dispensation of Justice by assenting some bills into law recently which is a great landmark achievement that deserves commendation’’.
The Attorney General lamented the demise of two lawyers, a male and a female in the pursuit of their profession, in the persons of Peter Away and Mrs. Stella Ilora. She prayed that their souls and that of others who have passed in the ministry rest in perfect peace.
Hon. Justice D. A Onyefulu while delivering his paper on ‘Cross Examination A Weapon in The Hand of Adversary’ and ‘Parties On Trial In Court and Tribunals’ said that criminal prosecution is a technical procedure that required a skilled prosecutor to navigate successfully’.
He mentioned the skills to include filling of information, arrangements, ingredients of the offense, availability of witnesses, sufficiency of witnesses and cross examination.
Justice Onyefulu maintained that prosecutors must be intelligent, making sure that exhibits are available and well presented in courts.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Barr. Ndirika Onyekwelu, frowned at the level of insubordination and disrespect amount junior lawyers. She advised them to shun every disapproving act and imbibe respect and obedience towards their seniors.
In her part, Dr. Uju Okoye of the State Ministry of Health thanked the Attorney General for helping them get a law that backs safe termination of pregnancies for women.
She maintained that the termination of pregnancies according to the existing law is allowed for pregnant mothers with health issues in order to save the life of the mothers vis-à-vis the carriers of the foetus.
*Chinelo is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State.*