In a continued push to strengthen justice delivery in Lagos State, police officers have undergone targeted training on the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL), as stakeholders intensify efforts to bridge gaps between legal provisions and real-world enforcement.
The training, held on March 26 at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, is part of a broader 12-month advocacy and capacity-building project that had earlier engaged lawyers and legal aid providers. The initiative is now focusing on the police—widely regarded as the frontline actors in the criminal justice system.
Speaking at the session, Executive Director of the Rights Enforcement and Public Law Centre (REPLACE), Felicitas Aigbogun-Brai, said the training aims to raise awareness and drive practical application of the ACJL, which, despite being in force for about a decade, remains underutilised.
“The law is 10 years old, yet not enough people know about it, and not enough police officers use it in the course of their duties,” she said. “We want to ensure that these innovative provisions are not just on paper, but actually bring justice closer to the ordinary person.”
Aigbogun-Brai highlighted key provisions of the ACJL, including Section 4, which prohibits the arrest of a suspect in place of another—commonly referred to as “arrest in lieu.” She stressed that law enforcement must desist from arresting relatives of suspects and instead intensify efforts to apprehend the actual individuals involved.
She also underscored provisions guaranteeing women’s rights to stand as sureties in bail proceedings and emphasized the requirement for legal representation or the presence of family members during the recording of confessional statements.
“Everyone has a phone today. Officers can easily call a lawyer, a relative, or even a legal aid organisation to witness statement-taking. These are practical steps that protect both suspects and the integrity of the justice process,” she added.
The programme is supported by the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme, funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA).
A RoLAC representative, Samson Onwusonye, explained that the intervention aligns with broader criminal justice reform goals, including improved access to justice for vulnerable groups such as women, children, and persons with disabilities.
“The police play a critical role—they handle arrests, detention, and often prosecution. But many are not fully aware of the human rights provisions embedded in the law,” he said. “This training is about building that awareness and strengthening collaboration.”
Samson noted that beyond policing, reforms are also targeting faster case resolution, reduced pre-trial detention, and the adoption of non-custodial measures such as plea bargaining.
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Also speaking, Lucas Koyejo, Lagos State Coordinator of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), delivered an overview of key human rights provisions in the ACJL, urging participants to uphold dignity and fairness in all interactions with suspects.
Participants at the training described the session as impactful and necessary.
Adeola Lawal, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) from the SCID said the training reinforced the importance of informing suspects of the reasons for their arrest and respecting the legally mandated 24-hour detention limit.
“We have been taught not to torture, to allow lawyers or family members during statement recording, and to ensure that suspects give statements voluntarily,” the officer said, pledging to cascade the knowledge to colleagues.
Another participant, attached to the cybercrime section, Obuse Victor, described the training as “marvelous,” noting that it improved their understanding of record-keeping, including documenting suspects’ property and using video recordings during statement-taking to prevent disputes in court.
Stakeholders say the engagement with police officers marks a critical step toward institutionalising the ACJL’s human rights safeguards and fostering a justice system that is more accountable, transparent, and accessible to all.
With continued collaboration among legal practitioners, law enforcement, and civil society organisations, organisers expressed optimism that the reforms will translate into measurable improvements in how justice is administered across Lagos State.