Act, a national law enacted in 2015 that provides for more efficient management and speedy dispensation of criminal justice in nigeria. The objective of the act is captured in section 1 which read thus. For instance, section 306 of the administration of criminal justice act 2015 acja ousts the power of the courts to grant stay of proceedings. An overview in relation to criminal cases adjudication in the federal high court by professoryemiakinseyegeorge, san,fciarb. Criminal justice is the system of practices and institutions of governments directed at upholding social control, deterring and mitigating crime, or sanctioning those. Ensuring efficiency and speed in the case management of criminal trials and dispensation of justice, b. The administration of criminal justice act, 2015 acja introduction.
Service level agreement sls international court of justice. Feb 12, 2017 find below the link to download the 2015 administration of criminal justice act acja. The criminal justice system in nigeria commences with the commission of a crime and continues with subsequent interventions by the law enforcement agencies of the system that has the power to arrest, arraignment, trial, sentencing and punishment of the offender. The bill, which was passed by the senate on may 5, seeks to, among others things, address the problem of delayed criminal trials. Chukwuma centre for law enforcement education lagos, nigeria. The short title to the penal code law 1959 hereinafter referred to as repeal of the 2 the principal law.
If implemented, the act will redeem the criminal justice from the tiny grip of rich and powerful criminal. An overview of the administration of criminal justice act, 2015 by professor yemi akinseyegeorge, san 1. Main features of nigerias administration of criminal justice act part 1 august 9, 2018 evelyn okakwu suspended chief justice of nigeria, walter onnoghen. With the acja, nigeria now has a unique and unified law applicable in all federal courts and with respect to offences contained in federal. The administration of criminal justice act acja 2015. The topic administration of justice in nigerian courts, problems and prospects seems to attract to itself the attention and inquisitiveness on the part of the common man or every believer in the rule of law of what the writer is talking about or what he is going to upon since the mere mention of justice in. The act which was signed into law in may 2015, has a 495section law divided into 49 parts, providing for the administration of criminal justice and. The administration of criminal justice act, 2015 acja. In nigeria, before 2015, the two basic legislations dealing with criminal procedure were the criminal.
The law comes in handy for both lawyers and nonlawyers. In a wellconsidered leading judgment, rhodesvivour, jsc stated. Practice direction for administration of criminal justice act. Plea bargaining and the administration of criminal justice in. Find below the link to download the 2015 administration of criminal justice act acja. Criminal code act chapter 77 laws of the federation of nigeria 1990 arrangement of sections the original numbering of sections has been retained in order not to disturb the cross references to those sections in other enactments which are many and will be found throughout the whole edition 1. Tribute to chief wole olanipekun, cfr,san, fciarb,ll.
No doubt, the ajca is a timely intervention in the criminal justice sector in nigeria. One act that has generated a lot of debate in recent times and has been wholeheartedly welcomed is the administration of criminal justice act 2015, which took almost a decade to be enacted into law. Procedure code and the criminal procedure act, passed. Nigerian criminal law pdf nigerian criminal law pdf nigerian criminal law pdf download. The act which was signed into law in may 2015, has a 495section law divided into 49 parts. February 8, 2016 3 section 493 administration of criminal justice act 2015 2. The government of lagos state and the federal government ought to be commended for the long overdue overhaul of the administration of criminal justice in nigeria. Juvenile justice administration in nigeria pages 51 100. An appraisal of the administration of criminal justice act, 2015. The administration of criminal justice act, 2015 2. In addition to highlighting the jurisprudential basis for use of the new measures in criminal justice, we shall also highlight and consider suitable approaches for unlocking the potential of these concepts and practices in the criminal justice system. Assessing the administration of criminal justice in nigeria. Administration of justice criminal act federal ministry of.
Nigeria s capital territory of nigeria lagos was annexed by the british in 1849. Download administration of criminal justice act acja 2015. With the acja, nigeria now has a unique and unified law applicable in all federal. Abstract this thesis examines the problems and prospects of administration of criminal justice and in particular the difficulties of applying and realising the purposes of administration of criminal justice act 2015.
Protecting the interests and fundamental human rights of the defendant. President goodluck jonathan has signed the administration of criminal justice bill 2015 into law. Administration of criminal justice act 2015 police and human. Application of the act the administration of criminal justice act is divided into 48 parts with 495 sections. To achieve the set goals the paper shall cover the following key areas issues. The administration of criminal justice act, 2015 acja is unmistakably the hottest law in nigeria presently and it is without doubt due to its wide applicability and revolutionary nature. Essentially, section 1 of the acja explains the purpose of the act thus. Part 2 arrest, bail and preventive justice 3 arrest generally.
Nigeria with respect to the several matters therein dealt with. The purpose of this act is to ensure that the system of administration of criminal justice in nigeria. Justice is the habitual rendering of everyman his lawful due cited in obioha, 2011, p. Part 1 general provisions chapter 1 definition of offence. General provisions chapter 1 definition of offence, purpose, guiding principles and scope of application 1.
A socialpsychological analysis article pdf available february 2017 with 23,482 reads how we measure. The administration of criminal justice act, 2015 acja is unmistakably the hottest law in nigeria presently and it is without doubt due to its. Law report nigeria constitution presidential executive orders administration of criminal justice act 2015 service level agreement sls international. The administration of criminal justice act, 2015 2opinion. A few states of the federation have followed suit and those who have not done so have been urged to adopt and or domesticate the model federal law in their jurisdiction of. Administrative law wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Is section 306 of the administration of criminal justice act.
Justice as ones due has been criticised by many thinkers, but as i shall argue shortly, it is this idea of justice that comes closest to offering a comprehensive idea of justice in both its distributive and corrective senses. It is nonbinding, informal, and summary in nature, and the information contained herein does not constitute rules or regulations. Compliance to the administration of criminal justice act, 2015 in. The legal foundation for administration of justice. Department of justice and the enforcement division of the u. Section 214 2b of the 1999 constitution provides that the members of the nigeria police force shall have such powers and duties as may be conferred upon them by law. Enacted by the national assembly of the federal republic of nigeria. May 26, 2015 updated may 26, 2015 nigerias minister of justice and attorney general of the federation has presented the administration of criminal justice act to the public. Jonathan signs new criminal justice bill into law nigerian. An overview of the administration of criminal justice act, 2015. Nigerias attorney general presents administration of. The administration of criminal justice act, 2015 ii. Therefore, the basis of the nigerian criminal law is the english law. Problems in the administration of criminal justice in nigeria.
Commission act cap a3 lfn 2004 and enact the administration of criminal justice act, 2015 th may, 2015 commencement. Download administration of criminal justice act acja. Arrangement of sections 1 part 1 preliminary purpose. Administration of criminal justice act, 2015 section. Administration of criminal justice act 2015 federal ministry of justice. An act to make special provisions in relation to the mode of trial and punishment of certain offences, and for related purposes. Administration of criminal justice act clause arrangement of clauses part 1 preliminary 1 purpose of this act. Mr onovo in aiding the administration of criminal justice in nigeria. An act to provide for the administration of criminal justice in the courts of the federal capital territory and other federal courts in nigeria.
Nov 24, 2015 the administration of criminal justice act acja 2015 is, to my mind, an excellent piece of legislation which has been long overdue in coming. The act provides for the administration of criminal justice system which promotes efficient management of the criminal justice institutions, speedy dispensation of justice, protection of the society from crimes and the protection of the rights and interest of the suspect, the defendants and victims in nigeria. This work appraises the extent to which the provisions of the administration of criminal justice act, 2015 achieves the broad purpose of promoting efficient management of criminal justice institutions, speedy dispensation of justice, and the protection of the rights and interests of all actors in the nigerian criminal justice system. An overview of the administration of criminal justice law of. For nigeria and nigerians to be able to enjoy the lofty provisions of the administration of criminal justice act acja 2015 vis a vis the nigeria constitution, the nigerian government needs to be seen to be fully committed to improving the nigeria criminal justice system by providing all that is needed to make the acja 2015 work. Pdf an appraisal of the administration of criminal justice act, 2015. If implemented, the act will redeem the criminal justice from the tiny grip of rich and powerful. Part 9 place of trial or inquiry 93 venue generally. World factbook of criminal justice systems nigeria.
Section 2512 of the 1999 constitution as altered by the first, second and third alterations act, 2010 states that. Nigerian criminal law pdf free daily epaper of the indian express covers daily news from mumbai, delhi, pune, chandigarh, ahmedabad, kolkata including exlusive magazine reforms. Dec 04, 2015 the inherent powers of the courts have to do with the processes of a court and in protecting that process. D one is proud to be associated with this book project which is aimed at paying tributes to. Provisions in the act that extend to northern ireland. Critique of administration of criminal justice act acja 2015.
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