Bauchi Ranks Low in Justice Delivery as CSLS, MacArthur Foundation Drive Reform Efforts

From Paul Orude, Bauchi

The Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS), with support from the MacArthur Foundation, on Tuesday hosted a one-day stakeholders’ capacity building workshop on the National Minimum Standards (NMS) for the effective implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and its state laws.

The workshop, held at the Destination Bauchi Hotel Limited, brought together key players in the criminal justice sector including judges, magistrates, legal officers, law enforcement and correctional officials, and civil society groups.

In her welcome address on behalf of the CSLS President, Professor Yemi Akinseye-George (SAN), Barrister Sharon Jibaniya underscored the importance of the meeting.

She said  the engagement was aimed at fostering a shared commitment to justice reform through the implementation of the National Minimum Standards..

Jibaniya praised participants for their dedication, noting that their attendance reflected not only personal commitment but also institutional resolve to strengthen justice delivery mechanisms in Bauchi State and beyond.

“The National Minimum Standards document, which was validated by stakeholders in September 2024, is a direct response to practical challenges and emerging trends in justice delivery,” she said. “It provides actionable recommendations across pre-trial, trial, post-trial, and cross-cutting thematic areas.”

She noted that two national assessments have already been conducted since the project began in 2019, with Nasarawa State emerging as the third-best performing state in the latest evaluation.

Jibaniya called on heads of criminal justice agencies to actively advocate for and monitor the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) in their states, in line with the NMS. “Our country urgently needs a stronger, more coordinated, and responsive criminal justice system,” she emphasized.

Participants were urged to approach the workshop with a spirit of learning and collaboration to ensure that the National Minimum Standards are fully understood and implemented across all levels of the justice system.

The workshop is part of a broader effort to improve justice delivery and ensure that the principles of fairness, efficiency, and accountability are the Ppl upheld in Nigeria’s criminal justice processes.

Speaking during the occasion, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Bauchi State Command, Assistant Superintendent Ahmed Tata, disclosed that no fewer than 600 out of the over 900 inmates in correctional facilities across Bauchi State are currently awaiting trial for various offences.

Tata expressed concern over the persistent overcrowding in correctional centres, noting that the majority of inmates are being held without trial due to systemic delays within the justice system..

“The  ACJL has long been in existence, but the problem lies in its implementation,” he said. 

“Whenever there is a case without a conclusive judgment, the individual is simply remanded in custody. This practice worsens congestion in our facilities. Out of over 900 inmates, nearly 600 are awaiting trial. We need a speedy and efficient justice system to reduce this burden.”

Tata emphasised that the full enforcement of the ACJA and ACJL could significantly decongest correctional centres by promoting alternatives to pre-trial detention and ensuring timely adjudication of cases.

Also addressing participants at the workshop, Chief Magistrate Sefiya Musa described the training as both timely and necessary. 

Musa said the revelation that Bauchi State currently ranks 28th nationwide in justice administration is disheartening, especially when compared to Nasarawa State, which ranks third.

“We often assume that we are making progress in legal implementation, but the statistics presented today are a wake-up call,” she said. 

“Although the MacArthur Foundation has supported the implementation of justice reforms, there remains a pressing need for collective action, renewed commitment, and closing existing gaps in the system.”