FG unveils 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 a 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 a 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.

Meanwhile, Evbu Igbinedion, Esq., Executive Secretary of the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACMC), announced a strategic shift towards 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 civil society organisations and law enforcement agencies, alongside sustained funding and oversight, to ensure that “state A delivers the same standard of justice as state B.”