Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), yesterday, expressed commitment to a comprehensive review of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 to reflect evolving realities and address lingering challenges in Nigeria’s justice system.
Speaking at the Stakeholders’ Meeting on the Final Review and Validation of the Draft Administration of Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill, Fagbemi emphasised that while the ACJA had made notable strides in harmonising criminal procedures and improving access to justice, significant gaps remain nearly a decade after its enactment.
“Legislation alone cannot solve all the problems in our criminal justice system. The review of the ACJA presents an opportunity not only to reflect on our successes, but also to refine provisions, reappraise, address shortcomings, and deliver a justice system that is truly responsive to the realities of our time,” the AGF stressed.
The ACJA, enacted in 2015, introduced key reforms such as non-custodial measures, abolition of arrest by proxy, and harmonisation of criminal procedure laws across the federation.
All 36 states have since adopted their own versions of the Act, a development Fagbemi described as a “remarkable achievement.”
However, the minister identified persistent challenges, including trial delays, prison congestion, limited use of non-custodial sentences, and inadequate digital infrastructure for justice delivery.
He also pointed to the constitutional transfer of Correctional Services to the Concurrent Legislative List as a catalyst for deeper collaboration between the federal and state governments.
The programme was supported by the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS) and the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme.
In a related development, legal luminary, Prof. Yusuf Ali, has charged the new Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) to uphold the core attributes of integrity, honesty, humility, and probity.
He outlined the exclusive privileges of the rank, including the right of precedence in court, the wearing of silk, and the obligation to mentor younger lawyers.
In a paper delivered by the Kuliya Ngeri of Ilorin Emirate, at the pre-swearing-in induction programme for new SANs held yesterday in Abuja, titled “The Senior Advocate of Nigeria: Origin, Evolution and Role of the Rank in Shaping Nigeria’s Legal Profession”, the senior lawyer described the SAN title as more than a ceremonial honour, noting that it symbolises excellence, integrity, and leadership within the Bar.
He gave the vivid background of the SAN rank, established in 1975 under the Legal Practitioners Act, and modelled after the English Queen’s Counsel, noting that it remains the pinnacle of professional distinction in the nation’s legal system.
He explained that the rank, which began with the elevation of Chief FRA Williams and Dr. Nabo Graham-Douglas in 1975, had grown into a legacy institution that sets the standards of advocacy, and reinforces the ethical foundation of the legal profession.
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