Pulse.ng : Stakeholders in justice sector advocate application of national minimum standard

By Sani Idris Abdulrahman

Stakeholders in the justice sector in Kaduna State have advocated the need for the application of the National Minimum Standards for a more effective justice delivery in the country.

The people canvassed the view at a one-day capacity building workshop, organised by the Center for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS) on Wednesday in Kaduna.

The gathering was aimed at deepening the understanding and implementation of the national minimum standard for the effective implementation of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and Criminal Justice Laws.

The goal was also to ensure that every state aligned with the minimum operational benchmarks for justice delivery, regardless of local variations in law.

The workshop, organised in partnership with the MacArthur Foundation, brought together judges, prosecutors, magistrates, legal practitioners and civil society groups, as part of a nationwide effort to harmonise criminal justice procedures across Nigeria.

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Kaduna State, James Kanyip, said the state was fully committed to domesticating and applying the national minimum standard.

“Kaduna state is keying into the minimum standard to ensure seamless and uniform application of the law.

“We are collaborating closely with the CSLS to ensure the full implementation of the standard in our justice system.

“This will enhance transparency, speed up case resolution and ensure that no citizen is denied justice due to procedural inconsistencies,”

Kanyip said.

Also speaking, the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Muhammad Aliyu, described the workshop as a timely intervention in the quest to strengthen the administration of justice.

He said that the initiative would assist in streamlining the implementation of the Criminal Justice Act and serve as a practical guide for the courts, prosecutors and other stakeholders.

“It is an important step toward eliminating delays, improving fairness and ensuring that justice is dispensed without bias,” Aliyu said.

Highlighting the purpose of the workshop, Mr Kelvin Mejulu from the CSLS, said that the gathering was specifically aimed at engaging stakeholders on the implementation and administration of the ACJA.

“We are creating a benchmark below which no state is expected to fall as far as the administration of criminal justice is concerned.

“This will ensure that there is a consistent, fair and effective justice delivery system across Nigeria,” Mejulu said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that participants at the workshop engaged in technical sessions, case study reviews and discussions on global best practices.

Topics covered included reducing trial delays, safeguarding the rights of defendants and victims, improving coordination between the law enforcement agencies and courts.

The workshop also discussed the means of enhancing public confidence in the justice system.

Observers said the adoption of the national minimum standard would not only address long-standing gaps in the justice process, but also promote uniformity and reduce the disparities between the federal and state-level criminal justice procedures.

NAN also reports that recommendations from the workshop would form part of a larger framework to be presented to states for adoption, signalling a major step toward a harmonised and more efficient criminal justice system in the country. (NAN)