Tinubu Seeks Repeal of Criminal Justice Act, Proposes Major Reforms to Criminal Trials
President Bola Tinubu has transmitted a bill to the House of Representatives seeking to repeal the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, and replace it with a new legal framework designed to reform Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
A key feature of the proposed legislation is the abolition of the controversial trial-within-trial procedure in criminal proceedings. The reform is intended to reduce delays in the prosecution of criminal cases and improve the efficiency of the justice system.The bill, which has been forwarded to the National Assembly for consideration, introduces a range of measures aimed at modernising criminal justice administration, speeding up court processes and enhancing access to justice.Under the existing ACJA, courts often conduct a separate trial—commonly referred to as a trial-within-trial—to determine whether a defendant’s confessional statement was obtained voluntarily before it can be admitted as evidence. The proposed legislation seeks to eliminate this process, with the government arguing that it has contributed to prolonged criminal trials and case backlogs.The proposed reforms also seek to streamline judicial procedures, strengthen the protection of defendants’ rights and improve the overall administration of criminal justice across the country.
The Presidency said the bill forms part of the administration’s broader efforts to reform the justice sector, promote speedy dispensation of cases and increase public confidence in the legal system.The House of Representatives is expected to commence legislative consideration of the bill in the coming weeks. If passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by the President, the new legislation will replace the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, and introduce significant changes to the conduct of criminal proceedings in Nigeria.
Legal practitioners and other stakeholders are expected to closely examine the proposed reforms, particularly the planned abolition of the trial-within-trial procedure, which has long been a subject of debate within the country’s legal community.
