Group Photograph from AGA -Africa two training in Kogi
By Ed Malik, A | December 5, 2022
ed@ddnewsonline.com
Africa’s resource law group, the Attorney General Alliance (AGA -Africa), recently trained a batch of 200 lawyers in Kogi State on Oral Advocacy and Electronic Evidence in Criminal Prosecution and Defence.
The Country Representative, Anthony Idigie SAN of AGA -Africa, who spoke at the opening ceremony of the two-day training on Oral Advocacy and Electronic Evidence in Criminal Prosecution and Defence with the Kogi State Office of the Public Defender and Citizens Rights Commission, disclosed this on Thursday, December 1, 2022 at Suitorial Hotels in Lokoja, venue of the event.
Anthony Idigie was represented at the event by the Coordinator AGA-Africa, Ebelecchukwu Enedah, who explained that the conversation of electronic evidence is very important innovation as the global community continues, albeit, steadily to move and embrace technologically reliance to advance best practices.
Enedah stressed that making use of digital evidence is a fundamental part of successful and effective investigations and prosecutions of crime, noting that it complements investigation process realtime, by revealing vital information about crimes committed; movement of suspects; and criminal associates, among other factors.
“Indeed, Section 84 of the Evidence Act, 2011 provides for the admissibility of documents generated from a computer and the conditions that must be fulfilled for electronic evidence to be admitted; playing a fundamental role in backing the revolutionary decisions by yourselves to embrace electronic evidence and moving you towards a future where electronic evidence will be commonplace.
“However, the admissibility of this evidence will be greatly determined by how persuasively and accurately you can put across your argument, whilst showing the relevancy of the evidence that you are presenting to the court. Your argument should further be expressed eloquently and clearly.
“This training is therefore important as it provides us with a chance to discuss the issues that can arise about electronic evidence; and the need to formulate and adopt strategies that can address these issues.
“The training further provides us with a chance to look at best practices about electronic evidence, bearing in mind that this type of evidence requires enhanced expertise; and can easily be tampered with, manipulated or erased before it reaches the hand of justice, as well as, best practices when it comes to oral advocacy to ensure and enhance effective prosecutions.
Ebelechukwu Enedah, Coordinator AGA Africa Program in Nigeria
Hon Justice M.E. Umar of High Court of Kogi State
Dr Mrs Folashade Ariki Ayoade , SSG Kogi State
Mr Henry Obi of DSS Kogi Command
Barr Abdullahi Zakari, DG of PDCRC, Kogi State, Mr Habib Omeiza Abdullahi, Solicitor General, Ministry of Justice, Kogi State
Isaac Oguche, Associate, PUNUKA
The Country Representative commended the Kogi State government for partnering with AGA -Africa and observed that it was the third time Kogi State would host AGA -Africa Programmes.
He especially lauded the Kogi State Office of the Public Defender and Citizens Rights Commission (PDCRC) for their enthusiastic support and partnering with AGA-Africa.
In an interview with journalists, the Coordinator Ebelechukwu Enedah pointed out that the Theme of the workshop is very apt due to the increase in technological advancement, noting that oral advocacy is the way the lawyers present their case in court and the admissibility of the electronic which hitherto, not known to the court, urging the participants to take the advantage of the training to broaden their knowledge.
In his goodwill message, the Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello commended Attorney General Alliance AGA -Africa for bringing the workshop to the State, assuring that the government will continue to partner with any program that promotes and upholds the rule of law.
The Governor who was represented by the Secretary to Kogi State Government, Mrs. Folashade Arike Ayoade, stated that he would have loved to be present at workshop personally but was unavoidably absent for another assignment.
The Director General of Kogi State Office of the Public Defender and Citizen’s’ Rights Commission, Abdullahi W. Zakari agreed that the importance of the Theme of the Workshop cannot be over emphasized, stressing that the law practice required training and retraining to stay abreast of trends in the law profession.
Zakari therefore tasked the the 200 participants to take advantage of the workshop brought to their door steps to update their knowledge, stressing that people are paying heavily to receive this kind training.