President Bola Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu has forwarded a legislative proposal to the Senate seeking a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s criminal justice system through the repeal and re-enactment of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
The proposed legislation, titled the Administration of Criminal Justice Bill, 2026, seeks to repeal the existing Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, and replace it with an updated legal framework aimed at strengthening the country’s criminal justice administration.
A key provision of the bill is the establishment of a Criminal Justice Monitoring Council to oversee the implementation of the law in courts within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other federal courts across the country.
In a communication to the Senate, President Tinubu said the proposed legislation is designed to address procedural gaps and long-standing challenges that have slowed the dispensation of justice in Nigeria.
According to the President, the new bill will modernise the nation’s criminal justice system by incorporating recent developments in criminal justice administration, promoting the deployment of technology and innovation, and introducing measures that will enhance compliance and effective implementation by relevant institutions.
The proposed legislation is expected to strengthen the efficiency, transparency and accountability of the criminal justice system while ensuring quicker and more effective delivery of justice across federal courts.
