By Ebere Agozi/Anita Uzoagba
In the quest for the adherence to rule of law, experts have called for urgent reforms in the Nigeria justice system.
They made the call at the opening of the 7th Annual Criminal Law Review conference organised by the Rule of Law Development Foundation (ROLDF) on Monday in Abuja.
The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Ojo has called for full implementation of non-custodial measures as a critical step toward addressing overcrowding and improving rehabilitation outcomes in the country’s correctional facilities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 5 day event is titled “Navigating Change: Emerging Trends and Challenges in Nigeria’s Criminal Justice System”.
According to him, correctional system was designed not only to punish but also to reform, rehabilitate and reintegrate offenders.
He added that effective non-custodial sentencing remained essential to achieving the mandate of the Correctional Service Act, 2019.
Ojo highlighted ongoing reforms in the Service, including the profiling of inmates to leverage their skills, decongestion initiatives that facilitated the release of 4,086 inmates through fine payments, renovation of 12 custodial centres, and full biometric capturing, in partnership with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
He emphasised that Nigeria could not fully achieve the objectives of the Correctional Service Act without strengthening non-custodial sentencing and restorative justice mechanisms.
He further urged stakeholders to work together to implement alternatives to imprisonment, saying the measures would reduce overcrowding, ensure better rehabilitation and align Nigeria’s correctional practices with global standards.
In his welcome address, Mr JB Daudu SAN, Coordinator, Rule of Law Development Foundation (ROLDF) said that the foundation remained concerned about the deteriorating state of correctional facilities nationwide and called for urgent government intervention.
According to him, the conference was conceived as a forum to review all developments in crime apprehension, crime prosecution, crime adjudication and post-adjudicatory processes.
“Given the rising crime rate, we believe the government should urgently build at least one multipurpose correctional centre in each of the 774 local government areas.”
He lauded the Minister of Interior, for his leadership over the four paramilitary agencies under his ministry.
He noted that the conference would also examine issues such as extradition, extraordinary rendition, cross-border justice, artificial intelligence in crime regulation, blockchain for data protection, and the constitutional implications of state-backed vigilante groups.
The Kogi state Governor, Ahmed Ododo represented by M Y Abdullahi, Attorney General, Kogi state said that his administration is committed to justice sector reform and the strengthening of the rule of law across Nigeria.
According to him, the rule of law remains the bedrock of a just society, ensuring equality, protecting fundamental human rights and safeguarding the democratic process.
He added that Nigeria could only achieve lasting peace and security through strict adherence to legal processes and institutional accountability.
“Our support for legal education, capacity building and justice advocacy has contributed meaningfully to the advancement of the rule of law.”
He lauded the organisers for sustaining a platform that promotes dialogue on emerging legal challenges and the future of criminal justice administration in Nigeria.
“it is through such collaborative effort that we can ensure a fair, efficient and inclusive justice system for all Nigerians”, he said.
For his part, President, National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benedict Kanyip represented by Dr Abdullahi Zakaria, Director, civil litigation said that urgent reforms are needed in the country’s criminal justice system.
This, he said, is to address cybercrime, court delays, overcrowded correctional centres, and gaps in legislation brought about by technological changes.
According to him, Nigeria’s criminal justice system continued to face major challenges, including cybercrime, insecurity, human rights violations, and slow judicial processes, despite ongoing reforms under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.
He noted that emerging digital realities such as remote work, virtual hearings and artificial intelligence had introduced new dimensions to crime and evidence, making it necessary to modernise existing laws.
“Even with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, gaps remain in implementation, especially in areas affected by technology.
He stressed the need for regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) in legal processes.
“AI must be used with caution and properly regulated to prevent misleading judicial outcomes.”
Kanyip emphasised the role of restorative justice, mediation and arbitration in reducing court congestion.
He urged stakeholders to prioritise full implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), modernisation of laws, and expansion of non-custodial sentencing options to reduce overcrowding in correctional centres.
He further commended the Rule of Law Development Foundation for consistently promoting reforms in Nigeria’s justice sector.
In his goodwill message, Yusuf Ali, SAN said that every citizen has a stake in justice sector reforms.
According to him, even law-abiding individuals could find themselves entangled in the system.
“In our culture here, even those who commit no offence may become guests of the correctional centres,”
He urged the ROLDF to prioritise law enforcement reforms, describing them as the bedrock of the justice system.
He expressed optimism that outcomes from the week-long conference would trigger meaningful policy and institutional changes.
NAN also reports that the foundation presented awards to three public officers who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the rule of law, which included the Governor of Kogi State, the Minister of Interior, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. (NAN)
Edited by Sadiya Hamza
