The Public Defendant Office under the Kwara State Ministry of Justice, Ilorin, has commenced advocacy visit to secondary schools in the state on crime prevention and eradication.

The state Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Barrister Kamaldeen Ajibade, mentioned this during a call to his office by the members of the Democracy Dividend Tour Team of the state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at the weekend.

He explained: "It is important to note that the advocacy programme is to educate the teaming youths on crime and other crime related offences aimed at eradicating crime completely in the state."

The Attorney General disclosed that the office has received 538 complaints/cases in the last two years, out of which 309 have been handled through litigation and conciliation process.

Ajibade said arrangement has been concluded by the government to have a stand-alone office for the state Ministry of Justice for proper coordination of the ministry for both staff and management. He added that the numbers of offices allocated to the ministry at its present location is inadequate.

The construction of the new site for the ministry would soon take off at the site located at the Government Reserved Area (GRA) Ilorin.

The commissioner also said the ministry is planning to inaugurate a Rent Tribunal to handle all issues related to landlord and tenants in the state. He explained that if inaugurated, it would allow the magistrate court to focus its attention on criminal cases.

He mentioned that the ministry has zonal offices located at Omu-Aran in Irepodun and Offa Local Government Areas of the state.
He also said additional office have been opened at Osi, Erin-Ile, Lafiagi, Afon and Kaiama, adding that residential quarters would soon be provided at these locations in due course .

"This is aimed at bringing justice closer to the people at the grass root,'' he said

In his earlier remark, the chairman of the NUJ team, Mr Yemi Adurotoye, said the purpose of the tour to ministries and other agents of government in the state was to keep the people abreast of the government activities and programmes.

He also mentioned that the exercise would give the government opportunity to be aware of the people's needs. He informed that the team has earlier visited some of the projects under the state ministries and agencies located in various parts of the state for the same purpose.

However, Adurotoye solicited for the support and cooperation of the justice ministry.