AGF seeks stakeholders’ collaboration for smooth ACJA implementation

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), on Tuesday, called for closer collaboration among critical stakeholders of the justice sector to ensure that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) facilitate access to justice and promote human rights.

Malami made this known at the National Workshop on the Implementation of Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 for critical stakeholders in Abuja on Tuesday.

The Minister, who spoke through the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Dayo Apata, at opening of the National Workshop on the Implementation of Administration of Criminal Justice Act, observed that the participants were drawn from high echelon of the critical stakeholders in criminal justice administration in the country to enrich discussion.

He also spoke of the validation and adoption of the templates, adding that it will ensure ACJA general application by those charged with the implementation of the Act.

He stressed the import of the workshop, adding that it attests to the determination of the Federal Ministry of Justice through the Federal Justice Sector Reform Coordinating Committee to continue to galvanise justice sector stakeholders in the collective efforts in reforming the justice system for effective and efficient justice delivery and promotion of the rule.

On his part, the Solicitor General of the federation and Permanent Secretary, Mr. Dayo Apata, whose speech was read by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mr. Muhammad Etsu, thanked the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Samuel Onnoghen and the AGF for their unflinching support to the reform of the Justice system in Nigeria.

In his goodwill message, the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, affirmed that the police is a critical stakeholder and one of the principal institutions in the criminal justice system with its key role to support the successful implementation of the ACJA.

Idris, represented by the Commissioner of Police in-charge of the Legal Department, Austin Salome, disclosed that ”it is pertinent to observe that Section 1 (2) of the Act imposes a duty on all criminal justice institutions to ensure compliance with the provisions of this law”.

He explained further that police is committed and has taken steps at addressing these challenges associated with meeting the provisions of not just the above highlighted Sections of the Act as it relates to policing functions.

According to him, Section 29, 33 and 34 of the Act provide a mechanism for the needed interface between the judiciary and security agencies empowered by law to arrest and detain suspects in their cells and detention facilities in line with the provisions of the 1999 constitution.

The Inspector General of Police further pointed out that many states of the Federation are yet to domesticate the Act, to create the needed synergy amongst the agencies tasked with its successful implementation.

“Also the dichotomy arising from this development has slowed down efforts to achieve a uniform application of this novel legislation nationwide, as Criminal Justice Institutions within States yet to domesticate the Act are forced to rely on the old procedural Laws which the Act seeks to replace”, he observed.

The Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd), opined that the workshop will indeed consolidate the synergy between the judiciary and security agencies as envisaged by the ACJA to build capacity at the institutional level.

The Comptroller-General, who was represented by the Head of Legal, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Mr. Wudapba Tampi, said it is in the area of their anti-smuggling activities that they come in full contact with criminal activities of the underworld.

“The NCS battles with smugglers and merchants of illegal and illicit trade in prohibited goods. The Nigeria Customs Service strongly supports this initiative and I know it will be a worthwhile experience for all participants present today.

I assure you of the support of the Nigeria Customs Service and I also solicit the support of all participants for robust deliberations and achievement of the goals of this workshop.”