Stakeholders in Nigeria’s justice sector have renewed calls for the effective implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) in Lagos State, as the Rights Enforcement and Public Law Centre (REPLACE), on Wednesday, convened a training session for lawyers, legal aid providers, and other justice actors in Maryland, Lagos.
The training brought together a broad spectrum of participants within the justice system, including legal practitioners, advocates, and justice sector stakeholders, with a shared goal of strengthening awareness and practical application of the law.
Organised with support from the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC), the session forms part of a 12-month project aimed at improving access to justice and ensuring that the provisions of the ACJL benefit ordinary citizens.
Speaking at the event, Executive Director of REPLACE, Felicitas Aigbogun-Brai, said the training was necessary given the limited awareness and usage of the law, despite its existence for over a decade.
According to her, “The ACJL is now 10 years old, yet many lawyers and even law enforcement officers are not applying its provisions. We want to ensure that justice becomes more accessible to the common man.”
She highlighted critical provisions of the law that remain largely ignored in practice, including the prohibition of arresting relatives in place of suspects, a practice she described as unlawful but still prevalent.
“Section 4 clearly states that no one should be arrested in place of another. Yet, we still see parents, siblings, or relatives being detained for offences they did not commit. This must stop,” she said.
Aigbogun-Brai also noted that the law permits women to stand as sureties in bail proceedings, a provision often resisted by some law enforcement officers due to cultural and institutional biases.
Another key provision discussed was the requirement that confessional statements be taken in the presence of a lawyer, family member, or accredited representative to prevent torture and forced confessions.
Participants were encouraged to insist on compliance with these safeguards, even through practical alternatives such as remote legal presence where necessary.
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Also speaking, Co-Convener of the Criminal Justice Network of Nigeria, Ngwu Nonyelum Nathaniel, outlined the key stages of the criminal justice process under the ACJL, including arrest or summons, detention, bail, investigation, prosecution, and discharge or conviction.
He emphasised that all actors within the justice system — law enforcement agencies, the courts, and correctional centres — must adhere strictly to these processes to ensure fairness and accountability.
“No suspect in detention should suffer because of the inadequacies of the system,” he said, while calling for increased funding to strengthen policing and justice delivery.
Participants at the training shared experiences on the challenges of applying the law, citing gaps in enforcement, institutional resistance, and limited public awareness.
They stressed the need for stronger collaboration among lawyers, legal aid providers, the police, and the judiciary to ensure that the rights guaranteed under the ACJL are fully realised.
Organisers said the initiative would extend beyond the training, with plans to engage key stakeholders and promote accountability across the justice system.
The session ended with a renewed commitment by participants to deepen advocacy, improve compliance, and use the provisions of the ACJL more effectively in protecting the rights of citizens in Lagos State.