Journal of Law and Criminal Justice

Access to Justice in Nigeria: Interrogating the Provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015
Dr. S.O Daudu

Abstract
The Criminal Justice System (CJS) in Nigeria which culminated in the enactment of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, becomes imperative to take stock of the gains as well as to highlight the shortcomings of the Act. This article seeks to espouse the innovations in the Act and point out the challenges the new provisions would pose for the Criminal Justice System in Nigeria. This is achieved by examining the innovative provisions of the ACJA as well as those that seek to cure the mischiefs that had bedeviled the Nigerian Criminal Justice system for over a century under the Criminal Procedure Act and the Criminal Procedure Code. The article found that despite the prospects of the ACJA, there are certain provisions which undermine its lofty aim of promoting efficient management of criminal justice and affording justice to all. There are also challenges in the implementation of the Act. The article therefore proffer some solutions to these challenges. The article concludes that despite these setbacks, the ACJA is important to improving the Nigerian criminal justice system. Therefore, the Act should be made applicable to all States in Nigeria in order to promote effective and efficient criminal justice system in Nigeria. States may however be allowed to enact their own administration of criminal justice law to suit the local circumstances within their jurisdictions.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/jlcj.v11n1a4