President Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate to fast-track the passage of a bill seeking to repeal the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015 and replace it with a new law aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
The request was contained in a letter presented by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Thursday’s plenary.
In the letter, the President urged lawmakers to enact the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2026, explaining that the proposed legislation is intended to improve the administration of criminal justice in courts within the Federal Capital Territory and other federal courts nationwide.
“The general objective of the bill is to repeal the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and to enact the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2026 to provide for the administration of criminal justice in the courts of the Federal Capital Territory and other Federal courts in Nigeria and establish an Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Council for effective and efficient administration of criminal justice in Nigeria,” the letter reads.
Tinubu said the proposed law is designed to enhance the management of criminal justice institutions, promote faster dispensation of justice, protect the public from crime, and safeguard the rights and interests of suspects, defendants and victims.
He also stated that the legislation would improve compliance with legal procedures by courts, law enforcement agencies and other institutions responsible for administering criminal justice.
According to the President, the decision to repeal and re-enact the 2015 Act was informed by legal, procedural and institutional shortcomings that have limited its effective implementation over the years.
Among the identified challenges are delays in criminal investigations and prosecution, inadequate use of technology during criminal proceedings, poor coordination among criminal justice institutions, ineffective case management systems and weak mechanisms for monitoring compliance with the law.
Tinubu noted that the draft bill was reviewed by a team of experienced law officers with expertise in criminal law, criminal procedure and legislative drafting.
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He added that the proposed legislation incorporates recent developments in criminal justice administration, judicial decisions, technological innovations and international best practices aimed at improving the country’s criminal justice framework.
The President further said the bill strengthens the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Council while introducing additional measures to improve implementation by relevant institutions.
Tinubu appealed to the Senate to give the proposal expedited consideration.
“In the light of the above, it is my hope that the Senate would consider the bill for an Act to repeal the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and to re-enact the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2026 expeditiously,” the letter reads.
After reading the President’s request, Akpabio referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business for further legislative action and directed the committee to report back to the chamber within one week.
The Administration of Criminal Justice Act was enacted in 2015 to improve the management of criminal justice institutions, reduce delays in criminal prosecutions, protect the rights of suspects and victims, and promote efficient justice delivery.
If passed, the proposed legislation is expected to modernise Nigeria’s criminal justice framework by addressing existing gaps, embracing technological advancements and aligning the legal system with evolving international best practices.