Chiamaka Anyaegbu Centre for SocioLegal Studies Who is a Witness A witness is one who sees or has personal knowledge of something or an event It is a person whose testimony is vital to an investigation and the trial ID: 780790
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Slide1
Provision on Witness Expenses & Witness Protection for effective Prosecution of criminal cases
Chiamaka
Anyaegbu
Centre for Socio-Legal Studies
Slide2Who is a Witness?A witness is one who sees or has personal knowledge of something or an event.
It
is a person whose testimony is vital to an investigation and the trial
.
Witnesses
are essential to successful investigation of
cases.
Assisting
in an investigation and testifying in court is a civic responsibility of every citizen.
Slide3Risks involvedCases where the suspect(s) are powerful, wealthy and influential or those with a history of violence can pose serious challenges to witnesses.
These
suspects in most cases have resources and influence to threaten or harm witnesses and their relations, and interfere with investigation and judicial processes
.
Investigators
and prosecutors must assess the level of to the witness and relation and provide protection accordingly.
Slide4Risk involved (2)Witnesses and their relative are often exposed to unpleasant experiences such as intimidation, coercion, including risk of physical attack and sometimes loss of lives.
Witnesses
of particular vulnerability are victims of sexual offences, human trafficking,
organised
crimes, subordinates to corrupt official, money laundering, etc
.
Reluctance
of vital witnesses to testify could lead to unsuccessful prosecution of High Profile Cases.
Slide5Witness Protection & Witness Expenses under ACJA Dispensation
Slide6Witness ProtectionACJA makes provisions for the protection of witnesses in S. 232, particularly in cases of:
Sexual offences.
Terrorism.
Economic and Financial Crimes.
Trafficking in Persons and related offences, and
other offence the Judge may consider appropriate.
Slide7Witness Protection (2)The protective measures provided under the ACJA include:non-disclosure of the names,
address, telephone numbers,
identity of the victim/witnesses of such offences, or
in any record or report of the
proceedings
.
Slide8Witness Protection (3)To protect the identity of the victim or witness, the court may take any or all of the following measures:
receive evidence by video link;
Screened or masked the witness;
Receive written deposition of expert evidence; and
any other measure the court considers appropriate in the circumstance.
Slide9Sanction for exposing witnessesACJA criminalizes unathorised disclosure of identity of witnesses or victims.
Offenders
are liable on conviction to a minimum term of one year imprisonment.
Slide10Sanction for failure to attend court as a witnessA witness who: (
a) refuses or neglects, without reasonable cause, to attend
court
in compliance with
a
summons duly
served
in the
manner
prescribed by law,
or
(b
) departs from the premises of the Court without the leave
of
the Judge or Magistrate hearing the case,
is liable on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding N10,000.00 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two months
.
S. 246.
Slide11Witness Expenses It is mandatory to pay the reasonable expenses of a state witnesses. S. 251. The
court may in its discretion direct the registrar to reimburse a witness for the
defence
his reasonable expenses sufficient to compensate the witness for attending court
.
S.
252.
The court may order a party at whose instance a trial was adjourned to pay expenses of a witness whose testimony could not be taken by reason of the adjournment.
S. 253.
Slide12Shortcomings of the Act in relation to WitnessesIt made inadequate provision on witnesses-
No
provision on who takes responsibility of witness expenses during investigation
.
No
adequate provisions to take care of witness expenses and witness protection
Slide13Way forwardEngagement of witnesses at the earliest time possible, i.e. at the investigation stage.Where
the investigator sees a risk for witnesses to be intimidated by a suspect or his associates, the
organisation
must take appropriate measures to prevent same by e.g. non-disclosure of their identities.
Slide14Way forward (2)A Witness needs to be well informed about court procedures and rules during pre-trial briefings;
Each
agency should have its own witness protection measures;
Where
a witness, is an employee, the authority needs to ensure he is not subjected to any intimidation, harassment, discrimination or punishment in relation to the subject matter in which
he/she
is witness.
Slide15Way forward (3)Investigator should protect the identity of a potential complainant/witness from unauthorized disclosure. Where there has been an unauthorized disclosure of the identity of a witness, caused by a staff or member of the investigation team, disciplinary measures should be pursued.
Slide16Conclusion Efforts should be made to protect witnesses at every stage of the criminal process beginning with investigation, during conduct of trials and after until such protection is no longer required. The termination of protection should be done in a manner that would not jeopardize the interest of the witness.
Slide17THANK YOU!