Stakeholders have expressed concern over the poor implementation of the administration of criminal justice legislation across the states in Nigeria.
Rising from a one – day sensitization workshop in Awka for media practitioners to review the implementation of the ACJL organized by the Network of Police Reform in Nigerian (NOPRIN) in collaboration
with Partners West Africa Nigeria with support from the Open Society Justice Initiative , the group appealed for more public
awareness and effective application on the ACJL at state and federal levels.
According to the National coordinator of Network of Police Reforms in Nigeria , Mr. Okechukwu Nwanguma Anambra state adopted the ACJL in 2010 with some other states with a view to addressing the problems
associated with its administration of criminal justice in Nigeria and enhance better respect for the rights of citizens by the police in the
law enforcement process.
The NOPRIN National coordinator argued that since 2010 when the law came into effect in the state, the need to review its implementation became necessary to determine how far the reforms have changed the application of criminal justice in the state.
Presenting the report of the field survey research conducted in Anambra state on the implementation of the ACJL by NOPRIN, Mr. Raphael Mbaegbu said the purpose of the research was to assess the key stakeholders’ awareness of the ACJL and adherence to the provisions of the law with respect to arrest, search, seizure and pre-trial detention practices.
In a paper on an overview of the Anambra state administration of criminal justice law 2010 “ Barrister Chukwuemeka Okite described the police as the actual gatekeeper of the ACJL which he described as the innovative reform tailored to address justice delivery to ensure a systematic administration of criminal justice in Nigeria so as to
promote efficient engagement of criminal justice institution, speedy dispensation of justice and protection of the society from crime, the protection of the rights of the suspect, the defendant and the victim.
A media consultant, Mr. Steve Uzochi who spoke on the role of the media in promoting public awareness and effective application of the
ACJL called on media practioners to protect the weak and vulnerable in the society and provide voice for them.
Questions and answers by the participants formed the right point of the workshop.
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