The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has unveiled a National Action Plan aimed at reinforcing the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and improving Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
Speaking at a high-level stakeholders’ coordination meeting in Abuja, Fagbemi described the plan as a framework to transform the country’s legal system from what he termed a “sophisticated text” into a practical, efficient, and rights-respecting system.
Highlighting the interconnected nature of criminal justice, Fagbemi explained that it functions as a chain of responsibilities involving investigation, prosecution, and correctional services. He warned that weak collaboration among agencies often results in missing case files, avoidable adjournments, and violations of suspects’ rights.
“The new action plan seeks to address these challenges by translating broad reform objectives into measurable outcomes with clear timelines,” he said. Fagbemi further clarified that restorative justice under the plan would complement the rule of law rather than replace it, with strict exclusions for grave or strategic offences.
Acknowledging persistent issues such as custodial congestion and fragmented processes, the Attorney-General urged stakeholders to maintain openness and honesty in addressing them. “Reform is not an event but a system of continuous improvement,” he said, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to a justice system that is timely, humane, and capable of earning public trust.
The Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Husseini Baba Yusuf, also called for stronger institutional cooperation among justice sector agencies, stressing that Nigeria’s criminal justice system can only succeed when law enforcement, the judiciary, and correctional services operate as a unified “ecosystem.” He added that coordination should be considered an operational necessity rather than a ceremonial gesture.
Reviewing the 2025 Annual Impact Report, the Chief Judge highlighted several milestones, including the launch of a Criminal Justice Reporting Portal, the expansion of duty solicitor schemes, and the introduction of e-filing systems in FCT Magistrate Courts. According to him, these initiatives aim to tackle the root causes of justice delays, particularly unlawful detentions and custodial congestion. “Justice delayed when institutions operate in silos is delivered when they function as an integrated system,” he said, urging stakeholders to focus on performance management beyond mere legal compliance.
Also addressing the meeting, the Executive Secretary of the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee, Evbu Igbinedion, announced a strategic shift toward a uniform National Action Plan to harmonise criminal justice procedures across the country. She noted that although all states have enacted criminal justice laws, implementation has remained fragmented and inconsistent.
Igbinedion emphasised that effective collaboration with civil society organisations and law enforcement agencies, alongside sustained funding and oversight, is crucial to maintaining consistent justice standards nationwide. “State A delivers the same standard of justice as state B,” she said, underscoring the goal of uniformity across the federation.
