FG to set National Minimum Standards for Criminal Justice Act implementation

By Kunle Sanni

The Federal Government has announced plans to establish a National Minimum Standard for implementing the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

This was revealed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, at the opening of a three-day review and validation session for the National Minimum Standards Document.

According to a statement by the ministry’s Director of Information, Modupe Ogundoro, the initiative aims to reform Nigeria’s criminal justice system and ensure uniformity across the country.

The session also inaugurated the National Working Group on the Implementation of the ACJA and Administration of Criminal Justice Laws (ACJLs) 2015.

Representing the Attorney General, the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba, emphasized that this effort is crucial to advancing Nigeria’s criminal justice reform.

“The review and validation of the National Minimum Standards Document is a critical step toward improving criminal justice administration and ensuring access to justice nationwide,” she said.

The ACJA, enacted in 2015, seeks to enhance the efficiency of the criminal justice system by promoting speedy trials, protecting society from crime, and safeguarding the rights of all parties involved.

Fagbemi highlighted that uniform application of the Act across states would prevent offenders from escaping justice through forum shopping—moving between states to avoid prosecution.

“The National Minimum Standards will ensure that both federal and state courts apply consistent procedures in criminal justice,” he added.

The National Working Group, comprising representatives from government agencies, civil society, legal professionals, and other stakeholders, aims to foster collaboration and ensure wide adoption of the standards.

Mrs. Leticia Ayoola-Daniels, Director of the Administration of Criminal Justice and Reform Department, noted challenges in the system such as court congestion and delayed trials. She explained that the National Minimum Standards would provide a unified framework to address these issues.

Stakeholders including the Nigerian Bar Association, the ICPC, EFCC, and the Nigerian Police expressed support for the initiative. International partners, such as the European Union and the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme (RoLAC), were also acknowledged for their contributions.