A Witness Support Unit (WSU) was on Wednesday 25 June, 2014, commissioned at the Enugu State High Court by Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) in partnership with Enugu State Ministry of Justice, Enugu State Judiciary, and Enugu State Justice Reform Team (ESJRT) and with the support of the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) under the Justice for All (J4A) programme on Speeding up Criminal Justice for Awaiting Trial Persons in Enugu State.

The establishment of the Witness Support Unit is geared towards improving the quality and availability of information and support services for court witnesses, and also to facilitate the provision of care and direct support services to vulnerable witnesses. The essence of this project is to enhance witness attendance to court, given that a significant cause of delays in the criminal justice process is the non-attendance of witness to give evidence in court. The process ensures the safety and performance of witnesses in court. This is actually to facilitate an easy way of making witnesses relax and stop being afraid to testify.

In attendance at the epoch-making event included the Attorney General of Enugu State, Barr Anthony Ani (SAN), senior magistrates, police officers, prison officers, and Justice P.N Emehelu who represented the Chief Judge of Enugu State, and members of the PRAWA Board, including the chairman, His Excellency Sir Gabriel Toby, Dr Fidelis Nde-Che, Prof. Chiso Okafor and the immediate former Controller-General of Prisons, Olusola Ogundipe.

In his welcome address, the Honorable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr Anthony Ani (SAN) noted that “Evidence is the pad that carries the law and without these witnesses there is no case.” He stressed that lack of knowledge is the reason why witnesses are afraid to testify; and urged J4A to continue with their good work. Concluding, he emphasized the urgent need for a Bail Information Centre (BIC) and made a case for effective investigation and evidence.

His Excellency Sir Gabriel Toby, chairman of PRAWA Governing Board who gave the special remarks and a brief on the commissioning of Witness Support Unit (WSU), also pointed out that PRAWA‟s credibility made the establishment of the WSU possible.

 The Executive Director of PRAWA, Dr. (Mrs.) Uju Agomoh, while commenting on the objectives and structure of the Witness Support Unit (WSU) commended the Chief Judge of the state and the Honorable Attorney General for their support and gave a rundown of activities of the Unit. She stressed on the importance of ensuring that witnesses are trained in any language they speak, and disclosed that a database of volunteer interpreters would be created to serve witnesses of diverse languages.