The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has urged stakeholders to provide feedback on government programmes and policies to enable his ministry improve service delivery in the area of access to criminal justice.
The minister also emphasised the importance of collaboration with stakeholders to ensure access to criminal justice and also to deliver on specific government priority areas.
Fagbemi revealed this during a Stakeholders/Citizens Engagement programme on Access to Criminal Justice organized by the ministry today at its headquarters in Abuja.
While rolling out the achievements of the Federal Ministry of Justice from October 1, 2024 to date, Fagbemi highlighted the ministry’s achievements in key areas, including improved prosecution of offences, capacity development in investigation and prosecution strategy, cybersecurity, forensic analysis and electronic evidence as well as protection for women, children, and vulnerable persons.
He mentioned the proposed bill aimed at reforming the law to provide better protection for victims of gender-based violence, revising imprisonment terms and fines, and introducing victim support funds for survivors.
He also noted the development of Standard Operating Procedures for school-related gender-based violence and a gender policy to create access to justice for victims.
The minister explained that stakeholder feedback would help identify gaps, propose solutions, and prioritize actions for the next phase of justice sector reforms.
He stated that the engagement demonstrated the ministry’s commitment to collaborative spirit and delivering beneficial programmes and policies that address the needs and concerns of Nigerians.
The attorney-general further disclosed the establishment of a Joint Case Team (JCT) on cyber-crime, comprising the ministry, law enforcement agencies and the judiciary in April, 2025, which was a direct initiative of response to the need for a coordinated and robust approach to combating cybercrimes as outlined in the Cyber-crimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015.
He stated that the period review also witnessed effective conduct of 237 terrorism cases from December 9-13, 2024, out of which 226 terrorism suspects were successfully prosecuted and convicted.
Fagbemi also revealed that in terms of extradition, the ministry had recorded the following achievements: the successful extradition of two fugitives – Hassan Bun Hussein Abolore and Lawal in January 2025 and Okechukwu Josiah Odunna in March, 2025 – to the United States of America; successful cooperation with the Qatari authorities for the extradition of one Benjamin Nnanyereugo a.k.a Killaboi, from Qatar back to Nigeria in April, 2025 to face murder charges for the unlawful killing of his girlfriend.”
Notable gains were also made in asset recovery and management, most importantly the gazetting of the Proceeds of Crime Regulations, 2024 to provide a standardised automated asset forfeiture management system as well as the development of the National Database on Asset Recovery and Management to ensure transparency in the asset recovery and management process.
He equally informed that Nigeria had executed an Asset Sharing Agreement with the U.S. on January 10, 2025 which led to the repatriation of the Galactica Assets in the sum of $52,882,018.95 from the U.S.
The minister stated further that his ministry, through the Legal Aid Council, is promoting access to justice via rendering free legal services in criminal and civil matters to poor Nigerians.
He said: “The Council handled 2,790 Criminal cases, 1,021 Civil matters (out of which 482 were handled using Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms).
“he Council also undertook 760 visits to Correctional facilities across the Federation to review the cases of inmates, while 637 suspects were assisted during police interviews and granted bail under the Agency’s Police Duty Solicitor Scheme (PDSS)”.
He added that the Council had also embarked on media engagement and community sensitisation campaigns on citizens’ rights and access to the criminal justice system in collaboration with traditional rulers, religious leaders and community-based organisations nationwide, with a total of 370 sensitisation campaigns carried out in the reporting period.
In line with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, Fagbemi highlighted that the NDLEA had expedited the timely production of defendants in court, access to legal representation, humane treatment of suspects and video recording of suspects when taking their statements, among others.
He noted: “In the period under review, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) carried out a total of 2,490 sensitisation and awareness campaigns on the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) within the Country.
“The Agency also secured 1,056 convictions for drug-related offences. In addition, NDLEA through its team of licensed and credible clinical psychologists, counselors, support workers, and mental health professionals, embarked on 3,985 counseling programmes to provide support in aiding recovery of drug users, managing social and emotional problems, improving their quality of life, and enhancing performance and productivity.”
Fagbemi told the stakeholders that the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) also recorded significant progress in achieving its mandate within the review period.
He said the agency recorded the prosecution and conviction of 37 human traffickers, compensation was secured for 10 victims of trafficking/violence against persons.
There had also been improvements in the coordination of the activities of legal hubs in 3 pilot states of Edo, Delta, and Lagos States, established in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration.
He emphasised that the government is improving access to legal remedies for copyright infringement through enhanced investigations, interventions, seizures and prosecution by the Nigerian Copyright Commission.
He said that the commission conducted 120 monitoring, documentation and inspection visits to schools, markets, printing press and other copyright flashpoints, which resulted in the confiscation of infringing copies of copyright works from pirates’ worth over N400,000,000 and also organised to support authors and their literary works and contributions, the commission initiated the “Lawyers Advocating for the Authors (LAFTA) Initiative” to identify and organise lawyers who offer pro bono services to authors.
The commission had also developed and deployed a Copyright Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Rules and Copyright Mediation Centre to promote the use of ADR mechanisms for the resolution of copyright disputes.
The Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Beatrice Jedy-Agba,OON,mni, in her welcome address to the Quarterly Stakeholder/Citizen Engagement on Access to Criminal Justice reminded them about the signing of a Performance Bond at a Presidential Retreat two years ago which obliged the Ministry to key deliverables in line with national priorities. She also reminded stakeholders that the deliverables were expanded in February 2024 to include high-impact initiatives by agencies under the Ministry, aimed at addressing citizens’ concerns and improving governance.
Jedy-Agba maintained that the Ministry had remained compliant with its quarterly reporting obligations under the Presidential Priorities.
She emphasized that success must go beyond reporting to focusing on real impact and aligning strategies with the evolving needs of citizens. The engagement served to present progress, share reforms, and reinforce the Ministry’s commitment to equity, inclusion, and the rule of law.
Jeddy-Agba noted the importance of transparency, dialogue, and citizen feedback. She commended, “the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, and Head of Central Coordinating Unit, Madam Hadiza Bala Usman for her steadfast leadership in harmonizing the reporting obligations of Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs) under the presidential priorities.”
