AGF assures of commitment to improving criminal justice system
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) has assured of his continued commitment to the improvement of the nation’s criminal justice system. Fagbemi
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) has assured of his continued commitment to the improvement of the nation's criminal justice system.
Fagbemi expressed delight about the impact of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 on the prosecution of criminal cases in the nation's courts since the enactment of the law.
The AGF said:"It has helped in enhancing convictions, plea bargaining, prohibition of arrest by proxy and support asset recovery."
He added that the law has equally helped to reduce the challenges of delays in case management, congestion in courts and overcrowded correctional centres.
The AGF stated this in Abuja at the unveiling of two documents to aid the implementation of ADJA - the National Minimum Standards (NMS) on the Implementation of ACJA 2015 and the Harmonized Restorative Justice Training Curriculum and Manual.
Fagbemi said the NMS provides a unified framework and benchmark for justice sector institutions and stakeholders to ensure consistency, accountability and improved performance across the country.
He noted that: "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 Director Administration of Criminal Justice and Reform Department, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Leticia Ayoola-Daniels said her ministry made notable strides in implementing Restorative Justice (RJ) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, John Tsoho hailed the contribution of the ACJA to the prosecution of criminal cases in the courts.
Represented by Justice James Omotosho (also of the Federal High Court), Justice Tsoho the ACJA as revolutionary in outlook, while maximally promoting efficiency and fairness.
The President of the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS), Professor Yemi Akinseye-George (SAN) made a lengthy presentation about the essence of the NMS and why judges must adopt it.
