Bauchi: Stakeholders in Bauchi State have called for urgent reforms to improve the justice delivery system in Nigeria. They made the call at a one-day capacity-building workshop on the National Minimum Standards for effective implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL), organised by the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS) in Bauchi.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, concerns were specifically raised over the poor implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL). Chief Magistrate Safiya Musa expressed worry that Bauchi State ranked 28th nationwide in justice administration, far behind Nasarawa, which ranks third. She emphasized the need for improved efforts, stating, “We have not done enough. The ACJL is in place, but its implementation remains poor. We need to wake up and do more.” Musa also acknowledged the support of the MacArthur Foundation and CSLS, calling for stronger collaboration within the state.

ASP Ahmed Tata, spokesperson of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Bauchi Command, highlighted the congestion in correction centres, which currently hold over 900 inmates, including nearly 600 awaiting trial. He attributed the overcrowding to the slow pace of justice delivery and noted that full implementation of the ACJL would help alleviate the situation.

Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George (SAN), Executive Director of CSLS, represented by Ms Sharon Jibaniya, mentioned that similar workshops were being conducted nationwide to finalize the National Minimum Standards in criminal procedures within the justice sector. Participants at the workshop included the Nigerian Bar Association, ICPC, EFCC, State Attorneys-General, NCoS, and the Police.