CLEEN foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) have expressed concern that after two years after its passage, Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJ), 2015 with innovations to significantly alter the administration of criminal justice in Nigeria which were later passed, most states are yet to domesticate the law while rights violations of those in detentions have continued unabated.
The Executive Director , Dr Benson Olugbuo who was represented by the Assistant Programme Manager, Public Safety and Security Department of CLEEN foundation , Chigozirim Okoro at the Policy Brief Dissemination on Counter-Terrorism Legislation in Abuja said this Act which merges the Penal Code (operational in the north) and the Criminal Code (applied in the south) also states clear modalities under which people can be arrested and tried for various offences.
She said with support from the Open Society Foundations, CLEEN foundation is implementing a project targeting at improving security sector accountability and human rights compliance in countering violent extremism in Nigeria.
According time her, the draft National Policy Framework and Action Plan on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism Strategy (launched in July, 2017) is complementary to current CVE legislations in Nigeria.
She said the strategy recognizes the role of various stakeholders to change violent extremism narratives and build institutional capacity on preventing and countering violent extremism.
“This workshop is intended to make public the policy statement on CVE legislation issues and police accountability. The workshop is structured to offer opportunity of engagement between and among the state security actors, civil society organizations and the media.
He commended the National Human Rights Commission, and the funding support from the Open Society Foundation (OSF) Special appreciation also goes to the participating security agencies, the media and other civil society organisations and technical experts who will provide important contributions to the discussion.
Also, the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Tony Ojukwu assured that the Nigerian government is committed to institutionalize respect for human rights and the rule of law.
