Legal and civil society advocates have called for urgent action to enforce and popularise the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL).

They said that many of its protections were unknown, ignored, or poorly implemented, leaving ordinary citizens vulnerable within Nigeria’s justice system.

The demand was given yesterday, during training for lawyers and legal aid providers on the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) in Lagos State, organised by Rights Enforcement and Public Law Centre (REPLACE) in partnership with Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme (RoLAC) and IIDEA.

Executive Director of REPLACE, Felicitas Aigbogun-Brai, said the law, despite being in force for 10 years, had not achieved its intended impact because of low awareness and weak enforcement.

She, however, stressed that innovative provisions, designed to protect citizens, are often disregarded, particularly by law enforcement officers and even the public.

Aigbogun-Brai highlighted key safeguards in the law, including the prohibition of arresting individuals in place of others, a practice, she said, persists despite clear legal backing against it.

She noted that public scepticism about such provisions reflects a broader gap in sensitisation, with many citizens doubting that the law can protect them in real situations.

The executive director also pointed to systemic resistance within institutions, citing instances where female sureties are rejected due to cultural or practical biases, even though the law permits them.

According to her, some officers justify this by claiming enforcement is easier against male sureties.

Another major concern raised was the handling of confessional statements. The law requires that such statements be taken in the presence of a lawyer, family member, or a representative of a civil society organisation to prevent torture and coercion.

However, Aigbogun-Brai said compliance remains low, urging practical solutions, such as allowing suspects to contact legal representatives via mobile phones during interrogations.

She, therefore, called on judges to reject confessional statements obtained in violation of the law, emphasising that strict judicial enforcement would compel compliance from law enforcement agencies.

Convener of the Criminal Justice Network of Nigeria (CJNN), Nathaniel Ngwu, said ongoing reviews of criminal justice laws across states had led to reforms, but gaps remain in implementation.

Ngwu, who emphasised the need to assess how effectively these laws are being applied and to identify areas requiring legislative improvement, urged the participants to share real-world experiences in applying the law, noting that challenges, such as prolonged detention without trial, poor investigation practices, and corruption, continue to undermine justice delivery.

He stressed that while advocating for human rights, stakeholders must also respect legal institutions and engage constructively with them.

Meanwhile, the discussion also underscored the role of magistrates in visiting police stations to monitor detention conditions and enforce accountability, as well as the need for better training of law enforcement officers and legal practitioners.