TOWARDS A PROACTIVE ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The Nigerian criminal justice system is yet to achieve the result that led to the enactment of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 (ACJA) which is to reduce or eradicate delays in the trial of cases, stop or prevent indiscriminate transfer of investigating officers, improve inter agency relationship between various agencies involved in the administration of criminal justice (such as the security agencies, prosecutors, the court, the correctional centers and their staffers)and the resultant oppression and violation of human rights of accused person by operatives of security agencies especially the Nigeria police. On the other hand, despite the volume of work done by Civil Society Organizations in the criminal justice sector, issues of administration of criminal justice still depend largely on internal policy actions of government institutions within the criminal justice system despite the provisions of ACJA. This paper aims to analyze the role and limitations of civil society organizations in the administration of criminal justice in Nigeria and make recommendations for an impact driven CSO in the administration of criminal justice in Nigeria.