The Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, CSLS, has urged stakeholders working in the criminal justice sectors to apply the National Minimum Standards, NMS, to effectively implement the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA 2015 and Administration of Criminal Justice Laws, ACJL, and deliver justice to Nigerian citizens. CSLS creates awareness on National Minimum Standards The National Minimum Standards is a working document developed by Ministries of Justice, Civil Society and development partners aimed at improving the ACJA and ACJLs at both federal and states. Unless all stakeholders key into the NMS, the struggle to attain justice delivery will be aspirational in the…
Author: Funke Busari
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has filed a lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu over “the failure to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN to work with appropriate anti-corruption agencies to probe allegations that over N57 billion of public funds are missing, diverted or stolen from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in 2021 alone.” The damning allegations are documented in the 2021 audited report released last month by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation. Joined in the suit as Respondent is Mr. Fagbemi. In the…
The CLEEN Foundation, with support from MacArthur Foundation, has called for greater coordination and collaboration among stakeholders involved in the criminal justice system’s value chain to ensure full compliance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA 2015 in states across Nigeria. The Foundation expressed dissatisfaction with the level of compliance observed in selected states and identified gaps in the enforcement of laws, sentencing practices, and custodial applications. CLEEN recommendations In response, the Foundation advocates for transparency, accountability, and the rule of law to enhance the effectiveness of innovations within the legal framework. CLEEN Foundation highlighted key interventions that state…
Zarephath Aid, has called for the audit of all correctional facilities across the country with the aim of identifying the inmates and ascertaining each inmate’s case. The Founder of the international criminal justice group, Ben Abraham made the call during the commemoration of the United Nations International Human Rights Day, at a press conference in Ikeja, Lagos on Tuesday. He lamented the spate of increasing pre-trial inmates in the nation’s custodial centres and bemoaned the plights of persons who have stayed upwards 10 years awaiting trial because their case files are stuck somewhere in the chain of criminal justice system.…
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, and Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release all journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders and activists detained solely for the peaceful exercise of their human rights and doing their legitimate work. The groups also called for the release of Dele Farotimi, who is facing criminal defamation and cybercrime charges. The call was made at a joint press conference in Lagos on Tuesday. Speaking through Dr. Iyobosa Uwugiaren, Secretary of the NGE, the groups want the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release defenders of the civic space…
A Police officer and legal practitioner attached to Legal/Prosecution Section, Force Criminal Investigation Department, FCID Annex, Alagbon Ikoyi, Lagos, Morufu Animashaun has again been awarded for his excellent work in the Police. Animashaun was awarded Best Prosecutor of the Year 2024 by the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria, CRAN. The 2024 award made it the third time his outstanding role as a lawyer and police officer was awarded by CRAN. In 2018, he was presented the Excellent Award in Police Legal Duties. He was also awarded Excellent in Police Legal Service in 2021 and in 2024, his excellent work was…
…Reiterates the importance of royal fathers as key allies of the government Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, has presented staff of office to Oba Abdurasak Akanni Musa, the Orijeru of Igbooye Kingdom in Eredo Local Council Development Area, Epe. A master degree holder of the prestigious University of Lagos, UNILAG Akoka, Oba Abdurasak Akanni Musa, until ascending the throne of his fore fathers, was a professional town planner with specialty in urban development. The Staff of Office and Instrument of Appointment were presented on Friday to the new king on behalf of the governor by the Commissioner for Local Government…
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has urged the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas “to urgently assess the human rights impacts of Nigeria’s reform bills currently being discussed by the National Assembly including on Nigerians living in poverty.” SERAP said, “Any discussion and consideration of the tax reform bills must ensure full compliance with provisions of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international human rights obligations and commitments.” In the letter dated 7 December 2024 and signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “The assessments…
A Safety Officer with the Lagos State Safety Commission, Engineer Waheed Ariyo Wahab has said that his investigations did not reveal that any of the defendants were responsible for electricity at the Agege Stadium, where Whitney Adeniran, a student of the Chrisland School allegedly died. The fourth prosecution witness stated this while being cross-examined at the continuation of the ongoing matter before Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja. The witness who claimed he investigated the incident informed the court that nobody told him Whitney died from electrocution. He said his agency’s report on the…
Frontline international law expert and global vice chair of the International Law Association, ILA, Professor Damilola Olawuyi (SAN), has advocated for increased financial and technical support for youth-driven initiatives to accelerate the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals across the continent. The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who is also UNESCO Chair on Environmental Law and Sustainable Development at HBKU made these remarks at the Second Edition of the Professor Damilola Olawuyi SAN Inter-School Debate Competition held at the Students’ Eco-Friendly Centre, University of Ibadan. Organised by the Green Institute Fellows under the leadership of Latona Adedeji, the event provided…