IHRC-RFT Calls for Urgent Review of Nigeria’s Criminal Justice System

The Country Director of IHRC-RFT Nigeria, Amb. Abdullahi Bakoji Adamu, made the call while expressing concern over cases where suspects arrested and prosecuted for serious crimes later return to the community before the conclusion of their cases. He said the organisation was not calling for the rights of suspects to be violated, stressing that every accused person is entitled to a fair trial and remains innocent until proven guilty by a competent court.

Adamu said, however, that protecting the rights of suspects should not come at the expense of victims’ rights or public safety. He urged authorities to consider factors such as the seriousness of alleged offences, the possibility of flight, interference with witnesses and the destruction of evidence when making decisions during criminal proceedings, in accordance with the law.

He called on the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, state Attorneys-General, federal and state lawmakers, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, state Chief Judges and other stakeholders in the justice sector to investigate the challenges contributing to the situation and take appropriate measures.

According to him, security personnel often risk their lives to arrest suspects, and the justice system must ensure that such efforts are not undermined. He maintained that the objective should be to protect suspects’ legal rights, safeguard victims and the wider public, respect the work of security agencies, and ensure that anyone convicted of a crime receives the punishment prescribed by law.

The IHRC-RFT Country Director warned that failure to address the concerns could further weaken public confidence in the justice system and undermine the efforts of security agencies in combating crime. He stressed that arresting a suspect is only the first step, while ensuring justice is delivered should be the ultimate goal.