The Delta State Government has launched the Bail Information Management System, BIMS, as part of measures to speed up bail administration and reduce congestion in correctional centres across the state.
The initiative took off with the training of designated court registrars at the High Court Complex, Asaba,
, marking the commencement of its pilot phase.
BIMS is designed to digitally capture and securely store the biometric details and fingerprints of defendants and their sureties, enabling faster identification, verification and tracking throughout the bail process.
The programme is being implemented by the Delta State Government in collaboration with the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption, RoLAC, Programme of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, International IDEA, with funding from the European Union.
Speaking at the training, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ekemejero Ohwovoriole, SAN, said the system would transform bail administration by automating processes previously handled manually.
Ohwovoriole said BIMS would facilitate the documentation, processing, tracking and verification of defendants and sureties, thereby eliminating unnecessary delays in bail applications.
He explained that the system would be deployed in both the High Court and Magistrates’ Courts, adding that its application could eventually extend beyond litigation.
The Attorney-General said BIMS would also provide judges with vital information to guide the exercise of their discretion on bail applications, including the previous bail history of defendants.
He stressed that prolonged detention of persons awaiting trial was costly to both the defendants and the state.
According to him, the system would make it easier for the courts to determine whether a defendant had previously been granted bail or had jumped bail.
Describing BIMS as a game changer in criminal justice administration in Delta State, Ohwovoriole disclosed that the system had already been implemented in Lagos State.
In her remarks, the Chief Judge of Delta State, Hon. Justice Tessy Diai, represented by Hon. Justice Briki-Okolosi, said the deployment of BIMS demonstrated the judiciary’s commitment to embracing digital technology to improve the efficiency of judicial processes.
Justice Diai noted that technology had become indispensable to modern judicial administration, stressing that the success of any technological innovation depended largely on the competence of personnel operating it.
She therefore described the training of designated court registrars as a critical component of the pilot phase, noting that well-trained personnel would be essential to the effective implementation and sustainability of the system.
The Chief Judge commended the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice for supporting the initiative and ensuring that relevant officers received the necessary training.
She also appreciated the RoLAC team and technical experts for their support and for equipping the participants with the knowledge required to operate the system.
In his presentation, the RoLAC consultant, Mr. Musbau Famuyiwa, disclosed that seven court registrars had been trained under the pilot scheme.
Famuyiwa said BIMS was primarily designed for the High Court and Magistrates’ Courts and would provide a more efficient, transparent and reliable mechanism for managing bail-related information.
