Attorney General to End Escape of Inter State Criminals in Nigeria Soon, says AGF Fagbemi 

From  Abdul SULE (ABUJA)

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF), Prince Lateef Fagbemi, has said that the full domestication of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) by the states of the federation will soon end the escape of inter state criminals in the country. 

With the adoption of the Act by States, Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN maintained that offenders can no longer move from state to state with a view to escaping justice, a term commonly known as Forum Shopping. 

He spoke on Tuesday in Abuja at a 3-Day Technical National Working Group Session Review and Validation of the National Minimum Standard Document for the implementation of ACJA, 2015. 

To effectively curb acts of criminalities in Nigeria, Fagbemi canvassed the need to embrace the use of technology in the day-to-day administration of justice. 

The AGF explained that the need to incorporate efficient use of technology into processes, systems and procedures for the advancement of the administration of criminal justice cannot be overemphasized. 

He said that the Federal Government enacted the Administration of Criminal Justice Act in 2015, with a view to ensuring harmonious implementation of criminal justice reforms across the federation. 

According to him, the Act provides for the administration of criminal justice system which promotes efficient management of criminal justice institutions, speedy dispensation of justice, protection of the society from crimes and protection of the rights and interest of the suspect, the defendant and victims in Nigeria. 

"The adoption of the Act by States also ensures that offenders cannot move from state to state with a view to escaping justice, a term commonly known as Forum Shopping. 

"Thus, with improved and uniform implementation of criminal justice reforms across the country, there will be no escape route for criminals, which will in turn contribute to socio-economic development in Nigeria.

The AGF said that the National Minimum Standards have been developed as a tool to implement the ACJA and consolidate collaboration between stakeholders in justice delivery by ensuring that Courts, both at the federal and state level, apply similar standards in the implementation of criminal procedures and enforcement of criminal justice. 

"It is to this end that the National Working Group on the implementation of criminal justice reform was set up.  

"The National Working Group which comprises individuals and institutions of both the federal and state governments including Government Agencies, Civil Society Organisations, Lawyers and other stakeholders, was set up to facilitate cooperation and collaboration between stakeholders across the federation. 

"The aim of setting up the National Working Group is to ensure that the National Minimum Standards for Implementation of ACJA receives input, recommendations and wide acceptance from stakeholders across board.

"It is important to note that the establishment of the National Working Group was in response to the outcomes from the National Stakeholders Forum which held in October 2023. 

"At that Forum, participants unanimously recommended the establishment of the National Working Group to serve as the arrowhead for the implementation of criminal justice reforms across the country. 

"I am therefore delighted that today, the recommendations of stakeholders has been implemented. 

"I believe that in line with the recommendations of the Stakeholders’ forum, the National Working Group would be able to successfully galvanize and facilitate the implementation of ACJA and the National Minimum Standards. 

"We have undoubtedly, come a long way since the enactment of ACJA in 2015. The National Minimum Standards is developed to serve as a catalyst for improved implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 and the Administration of the Criminal Justice Laws of the various states (ACJA/ACJLs) by agencies of Criminal Justice administration at the federal and state levels. 

"The document received support from relevant stakeholders including the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies under the leadership of Prof Yemi Akinseye-George, SAN. 

"I implore all the participants, members, and stakeholders to cooperate with the national working group so that they can achieve their mandate in bringing about the significant improvement we all expect to see in the day to day dispensation of criminal justice.

"As I inaugurate the National Working Group today, I charge the members to work very hard to ensure the terms of reference of their engagement are actualized, particularly to address pertinent issues militating against harmonized  implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act as well as issues that affect the rights of individuals, such as the issue of persistent congestion of correctional centres in Nigeria.