President Bola Tinubu has forwarded a new Administration of Criminal Justice Bill, 2026 to the House of Representatives, seeking to repeal and replace the existing Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015 with a framework aimed at improving the efficiency of Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
In a letter read during plenary by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, the President said the proposed legislation is intended to address the legal, procedural and institutional gaps that have affected the implementation of the current law over the past decade.
Among the major reforms proposed in the bill are:
- Abolition of the “trial-within-trial” procedure in criminal proceedings.
- Establishment of a National Sex Offenders Register.
- Creation of a Witness Support Fund to protect and assist witnesses.
- Stronger judicial case management measures to speed up criminal trials.
- Expanded powers for the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Council to enhance oversight and implementation.
Tinubu said the bill is designed to ensure a more effective, efficient and modern criminal justice system for the Federal Capital Territory and other federal courts while strengthening the institutions responsible for implementing criminal justice reforms.
The House of Representatives is expected to begin legislative consideration of the bill in the coming weeks
President Bola Tinubu has forwarded a new Administration of Criminal Justice Bill, 2026 to the House of Representatives, seeking to repeal and replace the existing Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015 with a framework aimed at improving the efficiency of Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
In a letter read during plenary by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, the President said the proposed legislation is intended to address the legal, procedural and institutional gaps that have affected the implementation of the current law over the past decade.
Among the major reforms proposed in the bill are:
• Abolition of the “trial-within-trial” procedure in criminal proceedings.
• Establishment of a National Sex Offenders Register.
• Creation of a Witness Support Fund to protect and assist witnesses.
• Stronger judicial case management measures to speed up criminal trials.
• Expanded powers for the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Council to enhance oversight and implementation.
Tinubu said the bill is designed to ensure a more effective, efficient and modern criminal justice system for the Federal Capital Territory and other federal courts while strengthening the institutions responsible for implementing criminal justice reforms.
The House of Representatives is expected to begin legislative consideration of the bill in the coming weeks
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