Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, on Tuesday, tasked stakeholders, Attorneys General of States, Civil Society Organizations and international development partners to commit to the effective implementation of all policies, programmes and laws that will lead to a dynamic and efficient criminal justice administration system in the country.
Fagbemi said one of the cardinal points of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Tinubu, led administration is the commitment to ensuring that the criminal justice system of the country is more responsive to the demands of Nigerians for a simple, fast, efficient, effective, fair and trustworthy system for dispensation of justice.
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The AGF stated this in his keynote address at a 3-day National Stakeholders’ forum organized by the Federal Ministry of Justice in collaboration with the Centre for Social-Legal Studies.
The theme of the forum is “Review of the Implementation of Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 and Administration of Criminal Justice Laws of States.
The Justice Minister noted that the passage of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law by all the 36 States of the Federation have provided a common ground to address the critical issues and challenges confronting Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
“It has provided us a shared platform that would enable us scale up our efforts and seek new practical solutions to identified challenges.
In conducting the review of the ACJA/ACJLs, Fagbemi advised participants to ask questions regarding the nature and workability of the strategic amendments that needed to be done in order to make ACJA/ACJLs respond to critical challenges and needs of the society.
“We need to know what we could have done better, and how much further we need to go to enable us achieve the desired outcome.
“In addition, we will collaborate and work with colleagues in the private and public sectors, including fellow Attorneys-General to develop and agree on a National Minimum Standards that would guide our collective efforts at achieving a more balanced, effective and inclusive system of justice.
“It is expected that criminal justice institutions, anti-corruption agencies and other justice sector operatives will commit to, and observe the prescribed National Minimum Standards.
“My expectation is that at the conclusion of these deliberations, there would be a consensus around developing a strategic plan to guide both the Federal and State Governments in the review and consequent amendment of ACJA and the respective ACJLs of various States.
The Justice Minister hinted that ACJA is one of the few key legislations that both the Federal and States Governments share so much common grounds, as with common worries and concerns.
In a goodwill message, the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, charged participants at the forum to critically look at the grey areas impeding the implementation of Administration of Criminal Justice Act in the country.
“If we don’t get it right here at this forum, then the issue of reforms in the Nigerian Correctional Services will remain a mirage.
The Interior Minister insisted that getting lasting solutions to the problems facing the country’s judiciary, requires a multi-facet approach and must be through cocktail of ideas. Review will held every Nigerian have a right and not a right as a privilege.
In her welcome address, the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs Jeddy Agba, said the ACJA represents a significant milestone in the country’s judicial landscape, noting that the forum will provide stakeholders with the opportunity to brainstorm, share expertise, make recommendations, and build consensus on way forward in reviewing the ACJA.
Prof Yemi Akinseye George SAN, President, Centre for Social-Legal Studies, in his remarks, thanked the AGF for creating the forum for stakeholders and Attorneys General of States to cross fertilize ideas on the ways to review and amend the ACJA and ACJL to enhance criminal justice delivery. END.
