File: President Bola Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu has transmitted to the House of Representatives a bill seeking to repeal the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, proposing sweeping reforms to Nigeria’s criminal justice system, including the abolition of the controversial trial-within-trial procedure in criminal proceedings.
The proposed Administration of Criminal Justice Bill, 2026, also seeks to establish a national Sex Offenders Register, create a Witness Support Fund, strengthen judicial case management and expand the powers of the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Council.
In a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, President Tinubu said the proposed legislation was designed to address legal, procedural and institutional deficiencies that have hindered the effective implementation of the existing law over the past decade.
“I am pleased to transmit to the House of Representatives for consideration, a Bill for an Act to repeal the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 and enact the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2026,” the President wrote.
