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… The new legislation aims to improve the efficiency of federal courts nationwide
…The proposed reforms strengthen oversight, accountability and the delivery of justice
Daud Olatunji
President Bola Tinubu has formally asked the Senate to repeal the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and replace it with a new legal framework aimed at eliminating delays in criminal trials, improving judicial processes and strengthening the administration of justice across Nigeria.
The request is contained in a letter read on the Senate floor by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary on Thursday.
Tinubu said the proposed Administration of Criminal Justice Bill, 2026 will address long-standing legal, procedural and institutional challenges that have hampered the effective implementation of the existing law.
According to the President, the proposed legislation seeks to establish a more robust framework for the administration of criminal justice in the courts of the Federal Capital Territory and other federal courts across the country.
An important component of the bill is the creation of a Criminal Justice Administration Monitoring Council, which would be responsible for ensuring compliance with the law and improving coordination between institutions involved in the administration of criminal justice.
Tinubu noted that despite the progress recorded since the ACJA came into force in 2015, several challenges continued to undermine the effectiveness of the criminal justice system.
It identified delays in criminal investigations and prosecutions, inadequate use of technology in judicial proceedings, weak collaboration between justice sector institutions, poor case management systems and ineffective monitoring of compliance with the law as some of the main obstacles hindering the delivery of justice.
The President said the decision to seek the repeal and enactment of the law follows a comprehensive review conducted by legal experts and legal officials with extensive experience in criminal law, criminal procedure and legislative drafting.
He explained that the proposed legislation incorporates recent judicial pronouncements, technological innovations and international best practices designed to improve efficiency and accountability within the criminal justice system.
“The bill has comprehensively addressed these challenges. It also strengthens the Criminal Justice Administration Monitoring Council and provides additional measures aimed at effective implementation of the law by relevant institutions,” Tinubu said in the letter.
The President further said that the proposed law will promote speedy dispensation of justice, improve the management of criminal justice institutions, protect society from crime and safeguard the rights of suspects, accused and victims.
He added that the legislation would ensure greater compliance by courts, law enforcement and other authorities responsible for enforcing criminal justice laws.
Tinubu urged lawmakers to quickly consider the bill, stressing the need for urgent reforms to increase public confidence in the justice system and ensure more effective administration of criminal justice nationwide.
Following the submission of the President’s request, Akpabio referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Rules and Affairs for further legislative action.
The Senate President instructed the committee to examine the proposal and report to the House within four weeks.
This version follows the Punch-style inverted pyramid structure, with a stronger lead, clearer attributions, better flow and emphasis on the implications of the proposed reforms for Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
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