The Federal Government has reasserted its commitment to completely revamp the country’s criminal justice system.
While addressing attorney generals from over fifteen states at the South-East Special Policy Summit on Criminal Justice Reforms in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state, the Attorney General of the Federation/ Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, emphasized the need for a comprehensive transformation of the justice system.
Fagbemi highlighted that the summit aimed to enhance access to both civil and criminal justice by incorporating Alternative Dispute Resolution, Plea Bargaining, and Restorative Justice into the ongoing justice reforms in Nigeria.
He stressed, “An effective and efficient justice system is undoubtedly crucial for peace, stability, and economic growth in Nigeria” and further disclosed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to promoting access to justice and the rule of law.
“Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda,’ the current government is fervently dedicated to surpassing the existing standards and developing a criminal justice system that not only fulfills present needs but also lays the groundwork for a more secure and prosperous future for our country,” he added.
He also emphasized the Federal Government’s alignment with the ongoing justice sector reforms in the South-East.
In response, the Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, lamented that judiciaries in several African nations, particularly Nigeria, have been plagued by extensive backlogs, delays, and corruption, significantly impacting the prompt resolution of disputes in the country.
He attributed the delay in dispensation of justice to politicians who allegedly manipulate the judicial process for their benefit.
“Political interference and corruption in the judicial process have substantially contributed to delays in dispensing justice in Nigerian courts. Politicians exploit the judicial system, prolonging cases to serve their political interests. In this regard, the police are incentivized to fabricate charges, while judges and magistrates are influenced to detain or deny bail to the accused,” he expressed.
