Get Guardian on GoogleThe Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) has called for reforms to Nigeria’s criminal justice system to prevent prolonged detention of suspects without sufficient evidence.
The organisation warned that weaknesses in the administration of justice could undermine fundamental rights, particularly for poor and vulnerable Nigerians who cannot afford adequate legal representation.
Its Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Lucy James Abagi, made the call at the 2026 Access to Justice Parliament in Abuja on Wednesday.
The event, themed, “Balancing Security with Fundamental Rights: Terrorism, Technology and Access to Justice in Nigeria,” brought together representatives of government institutions, the judiciary, civil society organisations, legal practitioners and technology experts.
Abagi said Nigeria’s response to terrorism, kidnapping and other security threats must not come at the expense of citizens’ fundamental rights, dignity and freedom.
She described insecurity and access to justice as governance issues that required institutional capacity, accountability and public trust, noting that the primary responsibility of government was to protect the lives and welfare of citizens.
According to her, access to justice should not be limited to the courtroom but should be reflected in the everyday experiences of Nigerians.
She said it began with children being able to attend school without fear of abduction, farmers cultivating their land without threats of violent attacks and young people pursuing opportunities without exposure to crime and exploitation.
Abagi also raised concerns over the treatment of detainees, including minors who had died in custody, insisting that the loss of liberty should not deprive anyone of their humanity or fundamental rights.
“The death of detainees, including minors, in custody reminds us that deprivation of liberty must never become a violation of humanity,” she said.
Citing the Global Terrorism Index 2026, she disclosed that Nigeria recorded 750 terrorism-related deaths in 2025, representing a 46 per cent increase over the previous year, with 101 incidents recorded.
She said the figures represented families and communities whose lives and livelihoods had been disrupted by insecurity, stressing that every life mattered, regardless of the number of casualties.
The PPDC chief executive said the government must confront terrorism decisively while ensuring that security operations complied with the law.
She identified the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022, the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, as amended in 2024, and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 as important safeguards for lawful and accountable security operations.
Abagi also drew attention to the country’s pre-trial detention burden, disclosing that 51,955 inmates out of a total prison population of 80,008 were awaiting trial as of February 26.
She described the situation as a challenge to human dignity and the effective administration of justice, calling for stronger investigations, improved case management and greater use of non-custodial measures.
She disclosed that PPDC had supported the automation of 78 courts across five states, the automation of 1,100 criminal case files and exhibits, and the uploading of more than 1,022 files across nine courts.
The organisation had also facilitated the installation of three virtual court facilities, which had participated in more than 118 court sessions.
Abagi said the initiatives were aimed at improving efficiency in the justice system but maintained that technology alone could not guarantee justice without competent institutions and respect for citizens’ rights.
“The courtroom remains the place where justice may be determined, but society is where justice must first be experienced,” she said.
She urged stakeholders to prioritise accountability in counter-terrorism operations, reduce prolonged pre-trial detention, deploy technology responsibly and improve transparency and support for victims.
In his keynote address, Professor Sampson Ihesiene Erugo called for an immediate amendment of the ACJA 2015 to prevent security agencies from securing detention orders against suspects on the basis of mere suspicion.
He specifically questioned the remand provisions that allow suspects to be detained for 14 days, with a possible further 14-day extension, following applications by security agencies.
Erugo argued that the procedure could expose innocent people to prolonged detention, particularly those who lacked the financial resources to secure competent legal representation or challenge their detention.
“You can’t have a section that permits the security agencies, by mere application, to have a magistrate grant detention of somebody on mere suspicion for 14 days,” he said.
The professor maintained that the relevant provision required urgent amendment, warning that poor and vulnerable Nigerians were more likely to bear the consequences of weaknesses in the criminal justice system.
He expressed concern that suspects facing serious allegations, including terrorism-related offences, could remain in detention for extended periods before the evidence against them was properly tested.
Erugo insisted that the presumption of innocence must apply to every accused person, irrespective of the nature of the allegation.
He also faulted the unequal access to justice in the country, arguing that wealthy individuals could deploy their resources to secure better legal representation while indigent suspects struggled to defend themselves.
The keynote speaker further urged the judiciary, police and other institutions in the criminal justice system to embrace technology to improve investigations, court administration and transparency.
In his remarks, the Chairman of PPDC’s Board, Chibuzor Ekwekwo, said technology could reduce the financial and logistical difficulties associated with accessing justice, particularly for litigants and lawyers who had to travel long distances to attend court proceedings.
He identified the transportation of inmates from custodial centres to courtrooms as one of the factors contributing to delays in criminal trials, noting that virtual hearings could allow detainees to participate in proceedings without being physically transported.
Ekwekwo said the arrangement could also reduce security risks associated with moving terrorism suspects between detention facilities and courts.
The speakers called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, security agencies, the judiciary and civil society organisations to ensure that the pursuit of national security did not undermine fundamental rights and access to justice.
