Delta Launches System On Pre-Trial Detention

The Delta state government has launched the Bail Information Management System (BIMS) to reduce delays in bail administration and address congestion in correctional centres across the state,

The system would be deployed in both the High Court and Magistrates’ Courts, adding that its application could extend to other areas beyond litigation.

The training of designated court registrars, which took place in Asaba, marked the commencement of the pilot phase of the initiative.

The programme was organised by the state government in collaboration with the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme, implemented by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) and funded by the European Union.

Speaking at the event, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Delta State, Ekemejero Ohwovoriole, said BIMS would significantly improve the administration of bail by automating processes that were previously handled manually.

The BIMS, he said, is designed to enable the courts to capture and securely store the biometric records and fingerprints of defendants and their sureties, thereby facilitating proper identification, verification and tracking throughout the bail process.

He explained that the system would facilitate the documentation, processing, tracking and verification of defendants and sureties, thereby reducing delays associated with bail applications.

‎The Attorney -General noted that BIMS would provide judges with relevant information to assist them in exercising their discretion on bail applications, particularly by giving them access to a defendant’s previous bail history, stressing that prolonged pre-conviction detention was costly to both defendants and the state.

‎He added: “You will easily know if a person is a regular bail customer or has jumped bail previously.

‎Describing BIMS as a game changer in the administration of criminal justice in Delta state, Ohwovoriole noted that the system had already been implemented in Lagos state.

‎In her remarks, the Chief Judge of Delta State, Hon. Justice Tessy Diai, who was represented by Hon. Justice Briki-Okolosi, said the deployment of BIMS demonstrated the judiciary’s commitment to embracing digital solutions to enhance the efficiency of judicial processes.