Compliance to the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 in Prosecuting High Profile Corruption Cases in Nigeria (2015 � 2017)

Abstract

A lot has been written and said touching several defects in Nigeria's administration of criminal justice. These criticisms relate specifically to our procedural laws and its administration. A new law may readily be substituted for another so far as the substitution is built upon the right principles by which the people are governed and such reforms can only be effected by those who know the law and are ready to implement it. The first two years have now passed since the enactment of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act(ACJA) and having regard to the buzz which it created it may be that a review of its working during this initial period would be of interest, hence the purpose of this paper. The change citizens had hoped with the enactment of the Act is rather disappointing. Cases filed post – ACJA are still lingering in various courts due to lack of implementation. This paper attempts to track the implementation of some of the reforms introduced by the ACJA by measuring compliance as it relates to speedy dispensation of justice, explore reasons these cases are hanging in court and proffer solutions.