By
Fidelis Jockthan
The Adamawa State High Court, in partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), has commenced a two-day sensitisation roundtable aimed at strengthening judicial and prosecutorial responses to wildlife crime in Nigeria.
The workshop, funded by the European Union, brings together High Court judges, magistrates, officers of the National Park Service, and various paramilitary agencies under the theme: “Strengthening Judiciary and Prosecutorial Response to Wildlife Crime in Nigeria.”
In his address at the opening ceremony, the Country Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society, represented by the Programme Manager, Dr Teryima Uza, noted that the organisation has been operational in Nigeria since 2001, with its headquarters in Calabar, Cross River State.
Dr Uza highlighted the Society’s key partnerships with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism, and the Ministry of Water Resources.
He emphasised that the primary objective of the workshop is to raise awareness among judges and magistrates about the severity and impact of wildlife trafficking on biodiversity and the people of Nigeria.
Other objectives, according to Dr Uza, include highlighting the legal frameworks governing wildlife protection, identifying challenges in prosecuting wildlife cases, and upholding Nigeria’s obligations as a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
The workshop also seeks to promote stronger collaboration between the judiciary, conservation organisations, and law enforcement agencies for more effective case management.
Declaring the workshop open, the Chief Judge of Adamawa State, Justice Hafsat Abdulsalam, who was represented by Justice Helen Nuhu Hammanjoda, described the initiative as timely.
“This workshop will acquaint our judges and magistrates with the laws governing wildlife management and equip them with the necessary tools to adjudicate cases effectively,” Justice Hammanjoda stated.
In their goodwill messages, representatives of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Suleiman Samila, alongside officials from the National Park Service, Nigeria Police Force, and Nigeria Immigration Service, commended the organisers and reiterated the urgent need for the protection of wildlife species through gazetted laws and enforcement.
The two-day workshop will feature presentations on national laws, policies and regulations, protected species and prohibited trade, as well as the impact of wildlife crime on biodiversity, the economy, national security, and public health. Participants are also expected to make recommendations for strengthening judicial responses to wildlife offences.
The Adamawa State High Court has consistently been at the forefront of judicial reform, prioritising the empowerment of judges with legal knowledge for effective adjudication and the provision of a conducive working environment.
