The legal landscape of practice in Nigeria, is changing rapidly. A growing number of Lawyers who built their careers in government are now moving into private practice, bringing with them institutional knowledge and a different perspective on the justice system. One such Lawyer is Dr Babajide Olumuyiwa Martins. Highly regarded for his work in criminal justice administration, Dr Martins started his career as a Crown Prosecutor in the UK. He spent years at the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, rising through strategic roles that included serving as Special Assistant on Criminal Prosecution to the then Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem, SAN. He now heads the Criminal Litigation and Public Prosecution Practice of Adeniji Kazeem & Co,. in the firm’s Abuja office. Over the weekend, Dr Martins shared his thoughts on justice administration and the evolving face of criminal justice delivery in Nigeria with Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi. He reflects on his journey through public service, the persistent challenges of criminal justice administration, the importance of prosecutorial independence, the expanding role of specialist legal expertise in supporting public institutions, and his vision for the future of criminal justice in the country
From Prosecutor to Private Practice: Dr Babajide Martins on Criminal Justice Administration
The legal landscape of practice in Nigeria, is changing rapidly. A growing number of Lawyers who built their careers in government are now moving into private practice, bringing with them institutional knowledge and a different perspective on the justice system. One such Lawyer is Dr Babajide Olumuyiwa Martins. Highly regarded for his work in criminal justice administration, Dr Martins started his career as a Crown Prosecutor in the UK. He spent years at the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, rising through strategic roles that included serving as Special Assistant on Criminal Prosecution to the then Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem, SAN. He now heads the Criminal Litigation and Public Prosecution Practice of Adeniji Kazeem & Co,. in the firm’s Abuja office. Over the weekend, Dr Martins shared his thoughts on justice administration and the evolving face of criminal justice delivery in Nigeria with Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi. He reflects on his journey through public service, the persistent challenges of criminal justice administration, the importance of prosecutorial independence, the expanding role of specialist legal expertise in supporting public institutions, and his vision for the future of criminal justice in the country
