Edo Attorney General champions stronger criminal justice reforms at Abuja ACJA Forum

Edo State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Samson Osagie, has taken a prominent role in advancing criminal justice reforms at a national roundtable in Abuja, where he advocated for the effective implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) across Nigeria.

The high-level event, hosted by the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, convened legal and justice sector stakeholders to deliberate on the adoption of Practice Directions for the National Minimum Standards for ACJA enforcement in the 36 states of the federation.

Dr Osagie, representing Edo State, played a central role in presenting and validating these critical guidelines, aimed at standardising the administration of criminal justice nationwide.

In his remarks, Dr Osagie underscored the transformative potential of the ACJA 2015, describing it as a cornerstone for delivering fair, efficient, and rights-based justice.

He drew attention to key elements of the legislation, including the protection of human rights, expedited trial processes, and streamlined investigations, all of which, he argued, are essential for restoring public trust in the justice system.

While recognising that implementation challenges persist particularly in areas of enforcement and institutional capacity, Dr Osagie called for increased cooperation among justice institutions and stakeholders.

He maintained that harmonised standards and sustained inter-agency collaboration were essential to overcoming existing bottlenecks.

By affirming the Practice Directions, Dr Osagie said that Nigeria is taking an important step toward building a more equitable and accountable justice system, where citizens’ rights are upheld and criminal proceedings are conducted with greater integrity and efficiency.

Clementina Agweda
Public Relations Officer
Office of the Attorney General