ROLAC, Others Harp On Criminal Justice Reforms

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) the European Union and other stakeholders have taken significant steps to ensure uniformity in the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

This was the outcome of the three-day stakeholders’ meeting for the committee’s inauguration to review and validate the national minimum standards documents on the implementation of the ACJA. Organised by the Federal Ministry of Justice with support from the EU-funded Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC-II) Programme of the International IDEA), the event culminated in adopting the national minimum standards document 2024 on implementing the Act.

In a statement issued yesterday, the manager of Component 1 – Criminal Justice Reform under the RoLAC-II Programme, Mr Badejogbin Oluwatoyin, said the project aims to establish a national scheme for assessing and evaluating the implementation of the ACJA/ACJLs and a national scoresheet indicating the performance of each state. This initiative seeks to provide a common basis for evaluating the implementation of criminal justice reforms, promote healthy competition among states, and attract more resources to the criminal justice sector.

The document covers several areas, including pre-trial case management, witness support, case filtering and timelines, bail, remand protocol, trial case management, and post-trial procedures. Participants also encouraged using plea bargains and agreed that the stay of trial proceedings due to an interlocutory application or appeal should be prohibited.

The National Minimum Standards for the Implementation of ACJA 2015 were designed to consolidate the rule of law and anti-corruption reforms, a key component of the programme aimed at enhancing the criminal justice system and justice service delivery in the Federal Capital Territory, Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Edo, Kano, Lagos, and Plateau states.

Speakers at the event emphasised that introducing the National Minimum Standards will significantly enhance the effective implementation of the ACJA, 2015. The RoLAC-II Programme aims to improve the performance, quality, and oversight of Nigeria’s criminal justice system and justice service delivery.

In a keynote address, attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, represented by the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs Beatrice Jessy-Agba, noted that the federal government enacted the ACJA in 2015 to ensure harmonious implementation of criminal justice reforms across the federation. He explained that the Act promotes efficient management of criminal justice institutions, speedy dispensation of justice, and protecting the rights and interests of suspects, defendants, and victims in Nigeria.

“The adoption of the Act by states ensures that offenders cannot escape justice by moving from state to state, a practice commonly known as forum shopping. Improved and uniform implementation of criminal justice reforms across the country will leave no escape route for criminals, contributing to socio-economic development in Nigeria,” he said.

He added that the National Minimum Standards had been developed to implement the ACJA and consolidate collaboration between stakeholders in justice delivery by ensuring that federal and state courts apply similar standards in criminal procedures and enforcement of criminal justice.

Chairman of the Body of States Attorneys-General, Dr Ben Odoh, represented by Nassarawa AG Labaran Shaibu Magaji, described the initiative as significant, capable of creating a balanced and inclusive justice system that safeguards the rights of all parties and strengthens legal frameworks.

Other speakers included representatives from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Nigerian Police, ICPC, EFCC, NCoS, and Professor Yemi Akinseye-George of the Center for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS) who emphasised the need to deepen the implementation of the ACJA and the ACJLs of States.

In her welcome address, the Director of the Administration of Criminal Justice and Reform Department (ACJRD) at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs Leticia Ayoola-Daniels, stated that the initiative stems from the growing need for a unified framework to address persistent gaps in the implementation of the ACJA and ACJLs across the country. She identified challenges such as court congestion, unavailability of data, delayed trials, and a lack of uniformity in criminal justice processes, assuring that finalising the document will significantly address these issues.

Associate Project Officer, ROLAC II, International IDEA, Mr Peter Omenka, stressed that the entity would continue to support the process and create awareness to ensure the documents are translated into different languages.

“RoLAC is ready to support the process and create awareness in such a way that the documents are translated into different languages,” he said.

International IDEA is the implementer of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme Phase II, funded by the European Union. The RoLAC II Programme aims to enhance the performance, quality, and oversight of Nigeria’s criminal justice system and justice service delivery. The programme promotes transparency, accountability, and effectiveness within the justice sector. Building on the achievements of the previous RoLAC I Programme, RoLAC II aligns with the objectives of the EU–Federal Republic of Nigeria Multi-Annual Indicative Programme (MIP) 2022-2027. It aims to further consolidate the justice sector and anti-corruption reforms, reduce gender-based violence, and promote respect for human rights.