Ten years after the enactment of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) in May 2015, legal stakeholders converged in Ibadan, Oyo State for the NBA Western Zone Human Rights Summit to evaluate the law’s effectiveness. The event, held on June 4th and 5th, 2025, took place at the Aare Afe Babalola Bar Centre, Iyaganku.
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Spearheaded by the 2nd Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mrs. Bolatumi Animashaun, who also serves as the Alternate Chair of the NBA Human Rights Institute, the summit was organized in collaboration with Vice Chairs of NBA branches in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Edo, and Delta states. The event was supported by the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies and Juritrust Centre for Socio-Legal Studies and Documentation.
Summit Theme and Key Presentations
The summit was themed “Human Rights, Law Enforcement and The Administration of Criminal Justice.” Discussions and papers addressed topics such as:
- Effectiveness of the ACJA since 2015, delivered by Prof. Akinseye-George SAN
- Role of the ACJMCs in monitoring and evaluation, presented by Prof. Akeem Bello and Mr. Gbemi Jaiyebo
- Remand processes, criminal case management, and bench perspectives, delivered by Hon. Justice Olubunmi Fadipe and Hon. Justice S. Akintola
- Arrest protocols and charge framing issues, addressed by Retired CP Fatai Owoseni, Mr. Okoli Chidi (EFCC), and officers from NCOS and ICPC
- Detention facility visits and the Police Duty Solicitors Scheme (PDSS), by Mr. Femi Falana SAN
- Past NBA interventions, presented by Mr. Abiola Olagunju
- Public interest litigation challenges, by Kunle Edun SAN
- Monitoring interventions by official bars, addressed by Mrs. Tola Rotimi
- People-centered justice mechanisms, by Gbolahan Adeniran
- Defendant trial rights and disclosure, by Dr. Charles Adeogun-Philips SAN
- Unifying the ACJA, by Prof. J.O.A. Akintayo
Attendance and Contributions
The summit drew participants from the judiciary, NBA leadership, law enforcement agencies, human rights committees, law students from UI, and legal experts. Significant resolutions were made, including publishing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on Arrests, Detention, and Prosecution.
Proposals for Reform
Recommendations included:
- Strengthening the ACJMC’s coordination and data-gathering roles
- Electronic arrest records to minimize indiscriminate arrests
- State Attorneys-General to actively implement ACJA provisions
- Technology adoption in justice delivery (e-filing, virtual hearings)
- Non-custodial sentencing and improved parole systems
- Monthly detention facility inspections per Section 34 ACJA
- Legal officer deployment at police stations per Section 66(3) of Police Act
- Improved case file management and liaison between police and AG’s offices
- Proper use of remand and elimination of holding charges
- Support for restorative justice units in states
- Enhancing legal education and public interest litigation
Other technical suggestions involved amending Rules of Professional Conduct, reforming bail practices, regulating charge amendments, enhancing Ministry of Justice review of case files, and building district solicitor systems across courts.
Summit Resolution and Conclusion
The summit concluded with a consensus to develop a comprehensive SOP addressing illegal detentions, torture, prolonged remand, and other systemic lapses in criminal justice administration. The goal is to harmonize efforts across stakeholders and strengthen the justice sector in line with human rights standards.
Supporting Organizations
The event received support from:
- NBA Ibadan, Lagos, and Ikorodu Branches
- Juritrust Centre
- Centre for Socio-Legal Studies
- Justice Reform Project
- Duty Solicitors Network
- Faculties of Law, University of Lagos and Ibadan
- World Lilies Apartments and Hotels/Abiodun Adetunji SAN
- Bayo Olugbemi (First Registrars and Investor Services Ltd)
- Oyo and Lagos State Judiciaries
- Nurudeen Adeoye Oyetunde
- Suleiman K. Bayo
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