‘1999 Constitution hinders uniform adoption of ACJA’

The uniform adoption of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) in all 36 states of the federation has been hindered by some provisions of Constitution, which vest power with the States Houses of Assembly to make laws for the peace, order and good governance of their states. The project coordinator of the Nigerian Bar […]

The uniform adoption of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) in all 36 states of the federation has been hindered by some provisions of Constitution, which vest power with the States Houses of Assembly to make laws for the peace, order and good governance of their states.

The project coordinator of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA-MacArthur project, Barrister Muritala Abdul-Rasheed, said this yesterday at the sensitisation campaign of the domestication of ACJA  in Kano and Jigawa states.

Abdul-Rasheed said “The NBA identified the need to promote and advocate for the domestication and implementation of the ACJA across 28 states in Nigeria with the theme, ‘Promoting the Domestication and Implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Legislation Across Nigeria.”

He said, “The ACJA will fall short of its potential if it only remains a federal law,” adding that in view of the need for uniformity, clarity and better administration of justice throughout the country, it is essential for states to adopt the law.

NBA 1st Vice-President, Caleb Dajan, represented the NBA president, Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN. He stressed the importance of ACJA in the criminal justice system. He said it is the association’s desire that at the end of the day, contributions made would lead to a smooth implementation of the Act in Kano and Jigawa states.