The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has emphasized the need for effective implementation of existing laws to combat crime in Nigeria.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement summit in Abuja on Monday, Fagbemi stressed that having laws is not enough; they must be rigorously enforced to minimize crime.
The summit, focused on implementing the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, saw the official signing of Practice Directions on remand proceedings. Fagbemi urged stakeholders in the justice sector to work together for effective ACJA implementation.
FCT High Court Chief Judge, Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf, pledged the judiciary’s commitment to upholding ACJA provisions. Meanwhile, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, represented by Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, called for a comprehensive review of ACJA, citing issues with certain sections.
The Nigerian Correctional Service, represented by Ezekiel Kagah, emphasized the need to harmonize ACJA with the Nigerian Correctional Service Act 2019 for smoother operations.
The event highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s criminal justice system through improved legislation and implementation strategies.