The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, has highlighted the importance of fully implementing the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) to eliminate “forum shopping” by criminals attempting to evade justice.
Fagbemi made this assertion during the inauguration of the National Working Committee (NWC) on National Minimum Standards (NMS) for the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC).
The event, which occurred in Abuja, was organised by the Federal Ministry of Justice in collaboration with the European Union-funded Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC II) Programme. The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) implements the RoLAC Programme.
In his keynote address, the AGF, represented by the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs Beatrice Jessy-Agba, stated that the ACJA was enacted in 2015 to streamline criminal justice reforms across Nigeria.
Fagbemi pointed out that adopting this act at the state level would prevent offenders from evading justice by moving from one state to another, a practice known as forum shopping.
“With the improved and uniform implementation of criminal justice reforms across the country, there will be no escape route for criminals, which will, in turn, contribute to socio-economic development in Nigeria,” Fagbemi remarked.
The AGF further explained that the development of the National Minimum Standards aims to unify criminal justice procedures, ensuring that courts at both federal and state levels adhere to similar standards in enforcing criminal justice.
He urged stakeholders to work closely with the newly inaugurated National Working Group to ensure the successful implementation of the reforms.
“As I inaugurate the National Working Group today, I charge the members to work diligently to actualise the terms of their engagement, particularly to address issues like the persistent congestion of correctional centres in Nigeria,” Fagbemi stated.
He also expressed optimism that the collective efforts of stakeholders would lead to innovative solutions for the challenges currently hindering the smooth implementation of the ACJA.
In his remarks, Dr. Ben Odoh, Chairman of the Body of States Attorneys-General, represented by Nasarawa Attorney-General Labaran Shaibu Magaji, lauded the initiative as a significant step toward creating a more balanced and inclusive justice system. He added that This system would safeguard all parties’ rights and strengthen legal frameworks nationwide.
Mrs. Leticia Ayoola-Daniels, Director of the Administration of Criminal Justice and Reform Department (ACJRD), Federal Ministry of Justice, noted that the initiative was born out of the need for a unified approach to addressing gaps in the implementation of the ACJA and ACJLs.
She highlighted issues such as court congestion, lack of data, delayed trials, and inconsistencies in criminal justice processes as key challenges the new standards aim to resolve.
RoLAC representative Mr. Peter Omenka affirmed that RoLAC would continue supporting the rule of law and anti-corruption reforms, pledging to assist in translating the National Minimum Standards into various languages to ensure broader awareness and understanding.
The three-day event is expected to produce actionable solutions for improving the administration of criminal justice across Nigeria.
