A criminal justice reform advocacy group, the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS) has advised on how the federal government could recover the abducted students in Kebbi State and how to prevent recurrence.
The CSLS urged the Federal Government to improve its current efforts to protect learning institutions, particularly those in remote areas, to address the recurring cases of student abduction.
The CSLS, Professor Yemi Akinseye-George (SAN), while speaking on Tuesday in Abuja, hailed the country’s anti-terror efforts, but urged the Federal Government not to ignore the interest shown by the United States government.
Akinseye-George spoke while announcing the beginning of a new year of the CSLS Project, which is implemented with the generous support of the European Union, through the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA).
Akinseye-George said, “We insist that the government prioritizes the protection of lives and property, with particular attention to minority religious communities in Northern Nigeria, who continue to face severe and targeted attacks.
“Strengthening access to justice cannot be isolated from the broader security landscape. A nation where communities live in fear cannot fully experience the protections and guarantees that the justice system is meant to uphold,” the CSLS said.
It urged the federal government to work with the US authorities in its efforts to address the current security challenge.
“We believe that the recent statement by President Donald Trump serves as a call to action, prompting us to take a critical and introspective approach to national security.
“We call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to urgently intensify its efforts in addressing the rising insecurity across the country,” it added.
The group assured that in its new project year, it will actively advance initiatives to strengthen the implementation of the ACJA, promote uniform justice procedures, and work towards removing systemic barriers to an effective criminal justice system.
It added that, “Our key priorities include:
*Conducting inspection visits and providing targeted support to state-level justice institutions to strengthen compliance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act/ Administration of Criminal Justice Laws (ACJA/ACJLs.)
*Advocating for the adoption of the Model Practice Direction on the Administration of Criminal Justice Act to enhance uniformity and improve procedural efficiency across jurisdictions.
*Hosting the Technical Review and Evaluation for focal states to assess progress, address implementation challenges, and harmonize best practices.
*Strengthening advocacy for the passage of the ACJ 2023 Bill and the amendment of relevant constitutional provisions to remove barriers to effective criminal justice administration.”
At a subsequent event, where he declared and opened a capacity building workshop on “constitutional impediments to access to justice in Nigeria,” Prof Akinseye-George identified inherent provisions in the nation’s Constitution that impede access to justice for the citizens.
Akinseye-George said: “As we begin, it is important to underscore the constitutional barriers that continue to affect access to justice for millions of Nigerians.
“One of the most fundamental is the non-justiciability of Chapter II of the Constitution, which limits the enforceability of socio-economic rights; rights that are essential for ensuring that justice is accessible, inclusive, and meaningful.
“Without enforceability, many rights remain aspirational rather than protective.
We must also confront the impact of excessive executive influence over the judiciary, particularly in the areas of funding, appointments, and administrative control.
“A justice system cannot deliver effectively where its independence is structurally constrained. Judicial autonomy is not only a constitutional ideal; it is a prerequisite for fairness, efficiency, and public confidence.
Furthermore, the rigid constitutional amendment procedure continues to slow down critical justice sector reforms.
“Laws and institutions must evolve to reflect societal changes, but when constitutional processes are too cumbersome, reforms stagnate, hindering modern criminal justice administration and limiting the country’s ability to respond to emerging challenges.
“These systemic barriers are not theoretical—they affect case management, pretrial processes, legal enforcement, court administration, and ultimately the daily experience of citizens seeking justice.
“By understanding these constraints, we are better equipped to design reforms that are sustainable, realistic, and constitutional,” he said.
As a way of improving public confidence in the nation’s criminal justice system, Akinseye-George urged the National Assembly to expedite the passage of the Administration of Criminal Justice Bill 2023 (ACJ 2023 Bill).
He added, “This long-overdue legislation contains critical provisions that will modernize and strengthen Nigeria’s criminal justice system, including measures to enhance efficiency, protect fair trial rights, and improve case management across courts.
“Its enactment is essential to address longstanding gaps in justice administration, bolster accountability, and ensure the system responds effectively to the needs of all Nigerians,” the CSLS President said.
