AN APPRAISAL OF ACCESS TO JUSTICE UNDER ‘THE ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE LAW (ACJL), ONDO STATE, 2015; PRETRIAL DETENTION IN FOCUS
Abstract
The Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 (ACJL 2015) is a landmark legislation in
Nigeria and apply to Ondo State. It seeks to promote access to justice and criminal justice
system practice in the country with the primary purpose of the Law being to ensure that the
system of administration of criminal justice in practice promotes the speedy dispensation of
justice, protection of the society from crime, protection of the rights and interest of the
defendant and the victim, This study therefore provides an appraisal of access to justice under
the Administration of Criminal Justice Law Ondo State (ACJL) 2015, with a specifie focus on
pre-trial detention. The objective of this study is to access the extent to which the ACJL Ondo
State 2015 facilitates or hinders access to justice for individuals who are in pre-trial detention.
This work is a qualitative study that will be based primarily on desktop research method and
it will invalve looking and examining relevant laws on access to justice like the Constitution of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Administration of Criminal Justice
Act, 2015, The Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL), Ondo State 2015, Acts of
Parliaments, State laws, Case laws, among others, The research will also employ and use
secondary sources including textbooks, journals, news and inedia publications, articles and
internet sources. The research poptlation comprises legal practitioners, law enforcement
officers, and defendants who have experienced pre-trial detention under the Ondo state ACJL
2015. The study finds that while the ACJL 2015 has made some improvements in access to
justice and pre-trial detention practices, there are still significant challenges and limitations
that need to be addressed. The study recommends that the Nigerian government should
strengthen the implementation of the ACJL 2013, provide training and capacity building for
legal practitioners and law enforcement officers, and improve the conditions of pre-trial
detention facilities in the state as well as offer pro bono services to pre-trial detainees.
This research contributes to the understanding of access to justice in the context of pre-trial
detention. It further provides insights for policy makers, legal practitioners, and stakeholders
involved in criminal justice reform.
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