ACJA 2015 is key to success of Justice Sector Reform ― Solicitor General

THE Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary,
Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr Dayo Apata has revealed that the
implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015
is one of the key points of Justice Sector Reform in Nigeria.

In a press statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by
Comrade Salihu Othman Isah, Special Adviser to the Attorney General
of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN
said he made this statement at the Network of Justice Sector Reform
Teams Conference in Benin City, Edo State on Tuesday, November 13,
2018.

He added that the Act provides a broad legal framework for a
more effective cross-sector collaboration and oversight between
agencies in criminal justice administration and protect the rights
of citizens.

According to him “Section 29 (1) of the Act provides a mechanism
for the interface between the Inspector General of Police and the
Attorney General of the Federation as well as the Commissioner of
Police and the Attorney General of the State.

“The Section of the Act requires the Inspector General of Police
to remit quarterly to the Attorney General of the Federation a
record of all arrest made with or without a warrant in relation to
federal offences within Nigeria.”

He continued that, “On the other hand, Section 29 (2) of the Act
requires the Commissioner of Police of a State or head of agency
authorised to make an arrest and to remit quarterly report to the
Attorney General of the State records of arrest with respect to
state offences.”

Apata who also is Chairman, Federal Justice Sector Reform
Committee explained that the conference is significant as it
attests to the determination of the Federal Justice Sector Reform
Coordinating Committee (FJSRCC) and their development partners to
continue to galvanise justice sector stakeholders in their
collective efforts in reforming the Justice System for effective
and efficient justice delivery and promotion of the rule of
law.

He explained that FJSRCC since the last Network of Justice
Sector Reform Teams Conference has continued to work with
stakeholders in organizing series of workshops aimed at addressing
the various challenges militating against the cross-institutional
effective and efficient administration of Justice.

According to him, the committee has developed a draft templates
and protocols set out as agreed principles and guidelines for
robust information gathering, sharing and management as well as
frame cross-institutional problems.

Apata noted that the number of reform teams since the last
conference has increased from 24 to 27 states with more states
signifying their readiness to establish their team.

Speaking, the Executive Governor of Edo State, Godwin Nogheghase
Obaseki while declaring the conference open said the state had
recently inaugurated the Administration of Criminal Justice Law
(ACJL) Monitoring Committee to ensure that criminal justice law is
properly administered.

Obaseki, who was represented by his Commissioner for Wealth
Creation, Cooperative and Employment, Mr Emmanuel Usoh disclosed
that his administration is to drive reformation that is geared
towards upholding the right of citizens and improving the course of
justice.

He highlighted some areas the state had made progress, such as
hosting of the first South-South Conference on National Policy on
Justice, collaborating with other Agencies and foreign governments
in order to curb human rights abuses of young women and men who are
trafficked to many countries in Europe.

The governor also stressed that it established functional
multi-door courthouse and family courts within the state to ensure
that sensitive issues are quickly resolved among others.

The Programme Director, Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC),
Dr Bob Arnot expressed satisfaction over the numerical growth of
Justice Sector Reform from 2 – 27 in Nigeria.

Arnot assured that the Network would be useful through
information sharing, sharing of practice but was worried on its
sustenance when ROLAC and other donor agencies stop funding it;
pointing out that the conference should be looking at ways to fund
the project.

He, therefore, called on individual states and the federal
government to make concrete efforts towards sustaining the
sector.

Secretary (FJSRCC), Mr Felix Ota-Okogie in his opening remarks
stated that “this is the bi-annual conference this year and they
are working towards gathering of justice institutions in the
country.”

He expressed appreciation to the Solicitor-General of the
Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice for
his time to grace the occasion in order to ensure that Justice
Reform Systems in Nigeria is better and effective while thanking
the European Union for their support in terms of funding.

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