The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF), Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN has reaffirmed the commitment of the federal government to build a new justice system that promotes accountability, protects and safeguards the rights of victims.
The system, when fully put in place, will also support the rehabilitation of offenders, and contribute to safer and more peaceful communities.
Fagbemi said on Tuesday in Abuja while unveiling the Harmonized Restorative Justice Training Curriculum and Manual (2025), National Minimum Standards (2025) on the effective implementation of ACJA, 2015 and the Administration of Criminal Justice laws of various states.
“Let me reaffirm the unwavering commitment of the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Justice, to continue to strengthen effective and responsive administration of criminal justice in Nigeria.
“Our goal is to build a justice system that promotes accountability, protects and safeguards the rights of victims, supports the rehabilitation of offenders and ultimately contributes to safer and more peaceful communities”, the AGF said.
At the occasion attended by critical stakeholders in the justice delivery sector, Fagbemi explained that Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the administration of criminal justice and to promote a justice system that is not only effective but also humane, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of victims, offenders and the wider community.
“Over the past decade, Nigeria has undertaken several reforms aimed at improving the efficiency, fairness, and accountability of our criminal justice system. One of the key pillars of these reforms has been the implementation of the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, which introduced innovative mechanisms to ensure speedy justice delivery and the decongestion of correctional centres.
“The National Minimum Standards (2025), which we also unveil today, represent a critical milestone in addressing longstanding challenges in the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and similar laws across the States.
“As highlighted in the Foreword, the ACJA has significantly improved justice delivery by enhancing convictions, enabling plea bargaining, prohibition of arrest by proxy and supporting asset recovery.
“However, persistent issues such as delays in case management, congested courts and overcrowded correctional centres remain.
He said that the National Minimum Standards provides a unified framework and benchmark for justice sector institutions and stakeholders to ensure consistency, accountability, and improved performance across the country.
According to him, the parameters are the product of extensive collaboration among federal and state justice institutions, professional bodies, and stakeholders and are designed to strengthen coordination, promote efficiency, and deepen the rule of law in Nigeria.
Within this broader reform framework, he said the National Minimum Standards will provide the foundation for consistency and accountability across the criminal justice system, while Restorative Justice has emerged as a vital complementary approach to traditional criminal justice processes.
According to the AGF, restorative Justice shifts the focus from punishment alone to repairing harm, promoting accountability and restoring relationships between victims, offenders, and communities.
“The Harmonized Restorative Justice Training Curriculum and Manual that we unveil today is also as a result of rigorous and collaborative process of development, review, and validation involving key stakeholders across the justice sector.
“Without any doubt in my mind, these documents will play a crucial role in strengthening the implementation of non-custodial measures and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, which are essential tools for reducing case backlogs and addressing the persistent challenge of prison congestion.
The AGF commended the efforts of the Administration of Criminal Justice Reform Department for driving the initiative, the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme, whose partnership was said to have made the programme possible and Prof. Akinseye-George, SAN for his commitment towards actualizing the National Minimum Standards.
