New Law On Criminal Justice Underway – Adoke

Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke has hinted that a new law meant to simplify criminal prosecutions, as well as strengthen the nation’s criminal justice system is to be promulgated soon.

Adoke noted that when operational, the law would eliminate arbitrary imprisonment of suspects before court sentences, and added that the rights of all individuals would be fully guaranteed under the law.

Adoke who is also the Minister of Justice of the Federation, stated this at a two-day round table for ‘Effective and Efficient Justice Delivery in Nigeria’ organised by Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants (CURE) which ended yesterday in Abuja.

The AGF, while expressing optimism about the usefulness of the coming law, explained that the Bill for an Act on Administration of Criminal Justice currently before the National Assembly had reached an advanced stage and would be passed into law “soon”.

He remarked that the new law was coming in the wake of government’s determination to ensure amendment of existing laws to enhance fundamental human rights, and to also achieve an effective criminal justice system. The minister commended the CURE for taking the initiative to ensure that only those who must be incarcerated are put behind bars.

“The passing of landmark reform legislations such as the National Human Rights (Amendment) Act 2011, the Legal Aid Council (Amendment) Act 2011, and the Evidence Act 2011, are all geared towards enhancing the humaneness and efficiency of our criminal justice system.

“I am optimistic that the National Assembly will soon pass the Administration of Criminal Justice Bill which is currently before it, in order to simplify the procedure for criminal prosecutions in the country through harmonisation of the Criminal Procedure Code and the Criminal Procedure Act now enforced in the northern and southern states, respectively”, the minister said.