FG unveils national strategy to overhaul criminal justice system

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, has officially launched the National Action Plan on Criminal Justice Administration. The strategy aims to transform Nigeria’s legal framework from a “sophisticated text” into a practical, efficient, and rights-respecting system. Speaking while delivering his keynote address at the high-level stakeholders coordination meeting […]

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, has officially launched the National Action Plan on Criminal Justice Administration.

The strategy aims to transform Nigeria’s legal framework from a “sophisticated text” into a practical, efficient, and rights-respecting system.

Speaking while delivering his keynote address at the high-level stakeholders coordination meeting to strengthen the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 in Abuja on Thursday, he emphasised that criminal justice is a “chain of coordinated responsibilities” involving investigation, prosecution, and corrections.

He warned that weak inter-agency collaboration leads to “missing case files, avoidable adjournments, and preventable rights violations.”

He said the new action plan is designed to bridge this gap by converting broad reform objectives into measurable outcomes with defined timelines.

The Attorney-General also clarified that restorative justice is a structured complement to the rule of law, not a substitute, with strict exclusions for grave or strategic offences.

Acknowledging the persistent challenges of custodial congestion and fragmented processes, the AGF urged stakeholders to remain candid and open.

“Reform is not an event but a system of continuous improvement,” he stated, reaffirming the government’s commitment to a justice system that is timely, humane, and deserving of public trust.

Speaking earlier, the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Justice Husseini Baba Yusuf, called for institutional synergy, declaring that Nigeria’s criminal justice system can only succeed when law enforcement, the judiciary, and correctional services function as a unified “ecosystem.”

The Chief Judge emphasised that coordination is an “operational necessity” rather than a ceremonial gesture.

Reviewing the 2025 Annual Impact Report, he highlighted significant milestones, including the launch of a Criminal Justice Reporting Portal, expanded duty solicitor schemes, and the implementation of e-filing systems for FCT Magistrate Courts.

These innovations are designed to tackle the “root causes” of justice delays—specifically unlawful detentions and custodial congestion, according to him.

“Justice delayed when institutions operate in silos is delivered when they function as an integrated system,” the Chief Judge remarked, urging a shift from merely checking legal compliance to actively managing performance.

Meanwhile, Evbu Igbinedion Esq., Executive Secretary of the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACMC),

announced a strategic shift toward a uniform National Action Plan to harmonise legal procedures across Nigeria.

She noted that while all states have passed criminal justice laws, implementation has remained “fragmented and disjointed.”

Igbinedion emphasised that success hinges on collaboration with CSOs and law enforcement, alongside sustained funding and oversight, to ensure “state A delivers the same standard of justice as state B.”