PRESSER: CSLS Planning Massive NMS Awareness Campaign, Reel Out February 2025 Agenda During Media Briefing
Daily Metro News NG
Media Briefing by Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George, SAN
President, Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS)
Friday, 31st January 2025
Distinguished members of the press,
It is my pleasure to welcome you to this media briefing. The primary purpose of our gathering today is to seek your invaluable support in promoting upcoming events organized by the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS) and to address critical issues affecting the administration of justice in our country.
As you may be aware, the CSLS has been at the forefront of developing and advocating for the National Minimum Standards (NMS) for the effective implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and the Administration of Criminal Justice Laws (ACJLs) of various states. These standards represent fundamental provisions within the ACJA and ACJLs and are designed for uniform application across the country. All agencies and stakeholders in the criminal justice system are required to adhere to them.
Despite their adoption by the Body of Attorneys General, which comprises the Attorney General of the Federation, State Attorneys General, and Commissioners of Justice, awareness of these standards among key stakeholders remains limited. A prime example is the standard that mandates that adjournments in criminal cases should not exceed 14 days. Unfortunately, this provision is routinely disregarded by prosecutors, defense lawyers, and courts, leading to indefinite delays in criminal trials, often spanning several months. These delays are particularly prevalent in cases involving indigent and high-profile defendants.
The causes of these persistent delays are well-documented and include:• Premature arraignment of suspects when the prosecution is unprepared for trial.• Excessive workload on prosecutors and inadequate supervision.• Deliberate delay tactics by defense lawyers.• Inefficient pre-trial case management and underutilization of plea bargaining and restorative justice mechanisms.• Manual recording of court proceedings, which slows down judicial processes.• Court congestion and other systemic inefficiencies.These challenges continue to undermine the efficiency of the criminal justice system. Given the constraints in resources available to justice sector agencies, it is impractical to expect immediate implementation of all provisions of the ACJA and ACJLs. This reality necessitated the development of the National Minimum Standards, which identify priority provisions that all courts and criminal justice institutions must implement without exception. However, our Centre has observed that these standards are not widely known or understood by the individuals and institutions expected to apply them. As part of our commitment to strengthening democracy and enhancing justice sector performance, we are dedicated to raising awareness and mobilizing support for the implementation of the National Minimum Standards.
Upcoming Events to Promote Awareness and Implementation
To achieve this objective, the CSLS will host the following events: 1. National Sensitization Webinar – Scheduled for Tuesday, 11th February 2025, this webinar will create awareness about the National Minimum Standards and provide a platform for stakeholders to discuss their implementation.
2. National TechnicalReview and Evaluation Conference (NTREC) – From 25th to 27th February 2025, this conference will bring together stakeholders from federal and state levels to assess compliance with the ACJA and ACJLs, share insights, and identify solutions to implementation challenges.During the National Sensitization Webinar, we will present findings from our 2024 Baseline Study on the state of implementation of ACJ legislation across the country. Representatives from various states will also provide updates on their respective jurisdictions. Additionally, the CSLS will verify these reports through our ACJA Rangers, who are stationed nationwide to monitor compliance. The insights gathered will be used to update the National Scoreboard, which ranks states based on their implementation of ACJ legislation.
We urge the media to support these initiatives by amplifying awareness of these activities so that stakeholders can better understand and integrate the National Minimum Standards into the justice system.
The Broader Implications of Delays in the Administration of Justice
Beyond our advocacy for the National Minimum Standards, it is imperative to highlight broader concerns about the deteriorating state of the justice system in Nigeria.
Delays in the administration of justice remain a pressing issue. The judicial system is becoming increasingly clogged, making it difficult for litigants to obtain timely and fair resolution of disputes. Many cases are filed solely to delay justice, exploiting inefficiencies in the system. Even when judgments are eventually delivered, successful litigants often face difficulties in enforcing court decisions due to bureaucratic bottlenecks and a general disregard for judicial rulings.
The growing perception that the courts are unable to dispense justice fairly and efficiently is deeply troubling. Such a perception discourages economic investment, erodes public trust, weakens the rule of law, and poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
If the government is unable to provide economic opportunities for its citizens and fails to ensure a safe and secure environment, then the essence of the Renewed Hope Agenda is called into question.
Call to Action: The Role of the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the Judiciary
To address these issues, we urge the Chief Justice of Nigeria, as the leader of the legal profession and the broader justice sector, to take bold and proactive measures to improve the administration of justice.
A key priority should be the adoption of technology to modernize judicial processes. The continued reliance on manual, longhand recording of court proceedings is no longer acceptable. The conditions under which our judges operate are challenging, inefficient, and outdated.
If we can use technology to enhance efficiency in our personal and professional lives, there is no justification for failing to apply technological solutions to expedite and enhance justice delivery. As the saying goes, justice delayed is justice denied.
We therefore appeal to the Chief Justice of Nigeria to establish a clear deadline for the nationwide adoption of:• E-filing of court processes.• E-service of court documents.•
E-assignment of cases.•
E-arraignment procedures.
• E-recording and transcription of court proceedings.
• E-monitoring of judicial performanceThese and other critical reforms embedded in the National Minimum Standards will be key discussion points at our upcoming National Sensitization Webinar and National Technical Review and Evaluation Conference (NTREC).
Acknowledgments
We take this opportunity to express our profound gratitude to our key partners, including:• The Federal Ministry of Justice and the State Ministries of Justice.• Our funding partners: MacArthur Foundation and RoLAC/International IDEA.• Most importantly, we extend our sincere appreciation to you, our esteemed colleagues in the media, for your consistent support in promoting the work of the CSLS.
We count on your continued cooperation in publicizing these critical issues and advocating for much-needed reforms in the justice sector.
Thank you.