AGF Fagbemi Calls for National Minimum Standards to Strengthen Criminal Justice System
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has urged the attorneys-general (AGs) of the 36 states of Nigeria and other critical stakeholders in the justice sector to familiarize themselves with the National Minimum Standards (NMS) to improve the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, and the respective state-level Administration of Criminal Justice Laws (ACJLs).
Fagbemi made the call during the National Technical Review and Evaluation Conference (NTREC 2.0) on the Review of the Implementation of the ACJA/ACJL held in Abuja on Wednesday. Represented by Mrs. Leticia Ayoola-Daniels, a Director at the Ministry of Justice, Fagbemi emphasized the essential role that the attorneys-general and other stakeholders play in advancing the nation’s justice system.
“The role you play as key stakeholders in the implementation of criminal justice reforms is crucial to the success of the National Minimum Standards initiative,” he stated. “Through your efforts in monitoring, evaluating, and enforcing compliance with the ACJA/ACJLs, you ensure that reforms are effectively implemented.”
The AGF further stressed that the adoption of the NMS across the states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is pivotal in establishing a harmonized, efficient, and accountable criminal justice system nationwide. He encouraged participants to remain committed to this transformative agenda, using the platform to share experiences, address challenges, and propose solutions that would further strengthen justice sector reforms.
Fagbemi also disclosed that, after thorough validation, he would soon sign and gazette the NMS Document. To ensure its wide accessibility and understanding, efforts are underway to translate the NMS into Nigeria’s three major languages and conduct sensitization workshops and capacity-building programs across the six geopolitical zones.
In his welcome address, Professor Yemi Akinseye-George (SAN), President of the Center for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS), emphasized the importance of the conference in improving Nigeria’s criminal justice system. He noted that the creation of a unified and effective approach to implementing the ACJA and ACJLs across the country is a significant milestone, building on discussions from 2019 aimed at standardizing criminal justice practices.
Akinseye-George highlighted that the NMS will foster consistency and fairness in justice delivery, leading to reduced delays, improved case management, and better resource optimization. He also pointed out that the NMS will promote collaboration between states to address crimes such as human trafficking and cybercrime.
Despite these positive developments, Akinseye-George lamented ongoing issues within the justice system, including slow trials, poor record-keeping, weak coordination, overcrowded prisons, and corruption. He argued that the NMS will provide a structured framework for evaluating and improving criminal justice reforms, setting national benchmarks, encouraging healthy competition among states, and strengthening advocacy for better funding and policy improvements.
