ACJA Has Significantly Improved Justice Delivery – AGF

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, on Tuesday, said the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) had significantly improved justice delivery in the country.

The minister said it had also helped enhance convictions, facilitate plea bargaining, prohibit arrest by proxy, and support asset recovery.

The AGF further noted that ACJA implementation has curbed persistent issues such as delays in case management, court congestion, and overcrowding in correctional centres.

The AGF stated this in Abuja at the unveiling of the national minimum standards (NMS) on the implementation of ACJA 2015 and the harmonised restorative justice training curriculum and manual.

The event, he said, marked a significant milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the administration of criminal justice and to promote a justice system that is not only effective but also humane, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of victims, offenders, and the wider community.

The National Minimum standards, according to the minister, provide a unified framework and benchmark for justice sector institutions and stakeholders to ensure consistency, accountability, and improved performance nationwide.

The AGF said, “These parameters are the product of extensive collaboration among federal and state justice institutions, professional bodies, and stakeholders, and are designed to strengthen coordination, promote efficiency, and deepen the rule of law in Nigeria.

“Over the past decade, Nigeria has undertaken several reforms aimed at improving the efficiency, fairness, and accountability of our criminal justice system.

“One of the key pillars of these reforms has been the implementation of the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, which introduced innovative mechanisms to ensure speedy justice delivery and the decongestion of correctional centres.

“The National Minimum Standards (2025), which we also unveil today, represent a critical milestone in addressing longstanding challenges in the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and similar laws across the States.

“As highlighted in the Foreword, the ACJA has significantly improved justice delivery by enhancing convictions, enabling plea bargaining, prohibiting arrest by proxy and supporting asset recovery.

“However, persistent issues such as delays in case management, congested courts, and overcrowded correctional centres remain.

Giving a welcome address earlier, the Director of Administration of the Criminal Justice and Reform Department, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs Leticia Ayoola-Daniels, said the Federal Ministry of Justice has made notable strides in implementing Restorative Justice (RJ) in FCT, collaborating with ACJMC as far back as 2022.

She said in 2023, FMOJ coordinated a meeting with the RJ Ad hoc Committee, Multidoor Court, and facilitators, who visited Lagos State to study its RJ system.

The outcome Ayoola-Daniels noted led to the drafting of key documents: the RJ policy, bill, practice direction, and training Manual.

“These documents were reviewed, validated, and followed by sensitisation workshops, coordinated by FMOJ in collaboration with ACJMC, supported by UNODC and International IIDEA/ ROLAC, laying the groundwork for integrating RJ into FCT’s justice system.” She said.

In a goodwill message, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Hon. Justice John Tsoho, stated that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, remains an indisputable landmark reform in Nigeria’s Criminal Justice System.

Represented by Justice James Omotosho of the court, the CJ described the Act as revolutionary in outlook, while maximally promoting efficiency and fairness.

“It has also guaranteed the protection of the rights of all parties within the justice process. The establishment of national minimum standards is a giant stride that ensures uniformity in implementation across jurisdictions; strengthens institutional accountability, and enhances public confidence in the justice system.” The CJ said.

There were also goodwill messages from the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, the Inspector General of Police, Etsu Kwali, the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Rule of Law and anti- Corruption (ROLAC) programme at the unveiling ceremony.