The is set to take a decisive step toward strengthening its role in Nigeria’s criminal justice system with an upcoming webinar themed “Beyond Advocacy: Institutionalising the NBA’s Role in Criminal Justice Administration.”
Organised by the NBA’s Administration of Criminal Justice (ACJ) Committee, the session aims to address long-standing concerns about the Association’s limited, largely advocacy-driven involvement in criminal justice processes, despite clear statutory recognition under existing legal frameworks such as the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
Over the years, the NBA’s participation has been described as reactive and intermittent, restricting its impact in monitoring compliance, identifying systemic gaps, and sustaining meaningful engagement with key stakeholders.
This development comes amid ongoing challenges in ACJA implementation, including weak enforcement, poor inter-agency coordination, and the absence of robust accountability structures.
The webinar seeks to reposition the NBA as a structured and institutional actor within the justice sector, moving beyond periodic interventions to a continuous and strategic presence.
Key discussions will focus on transitioning from reactive advocacy to proactive engagement, strengthening collaboration between the Bar, Bench, and law enforcement, and developing practical accountability tools such as compliance frameworks and reporting mechanisms.
Central to the conversation is the proposal to institutionalise the ACJ Committee as a standing structure within the NBA.
Expected speakers include notable figures such as,
- Kunle Edun, SAN
- Bayo Akinlade, Esq (Convener, Duty Solicitors Network)
- Chief Judge, FCT High Court (or Chief Magistrate)
- Tony Ojukwu, SAN (Executive Secretary, Human Rights Commission)
- alongside judicial leadership from the FCT High Court.
The initiative is expected to generate actionable recommendations for consideration by the NBA National Executive Committee (NEC), while also enhancing the visibility and strategic relevance of the ACJ Committee.
Stakeholders across the legal and justice sectors including practitioners, judicial officers, law enforcement agencies, and policymakers are expected to participate in what is shaping up to be a critical conversation on the future of criminal justice administration in Nigeria.
- Date:
- Time
- Zoom link
