JUSTICE SECTOR

REFORM

MONITORING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION REFORM PROCESS IN NIGERIA PROJECT/CIVIL SOCIETY OBSERVATORY ON ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN NIGERIA

About the Project: AFRILAW was selected as a member of the Civil Society Observatory on Administration of Criminal Justice in Nigeria and participated in the implementation  of  the  Monitoring of  the  Criminal  Justice  Administration  Reform  Process  in  Nigeria  Project  by CLEEN  Foundation  in collaboration with Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC) with funding support from MacArthur Foundation in 2018.  The aim of the project is to drive advocacy for the effective implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act through monitoring the progress of its implementation and drawing attention to violations/challenges when identified.

The activities and expected results of the project include to contribute to the development of an indicator system for monitoring the implementation of the ACJA; to hold quarterly meetings to review progress and challenges in implementation of the ACJA; to report and create public awareness on the provisions and implementation of the ACJA; to drive advocacy with relevant stakeholders in the criminal justice process to encourage compliance with the Act through working with the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee. It is expected that the members of the committee will convince more state to pass and implement the ACJA into their state laws.

Members of CSOs Observatory on Administration of Criminal Justice in Nigeria

The key activities of the advocacy visits includes the visit to criminal justice state actors specially the Attorney General/Commissioner of Justice and Commissioner of Police, and Quarterly Meetings of the civil society observatory on the administration of Criminal Justice in Nigeria meeting held in Lagos State, Abuja/FCT, Adamawa State, Imo State, Nassarawa State and Akwa-Ibom State.

AFRILAW is also a member of the Technical and Monitoring Sub-Committee of the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC) of the Federal Ministry of Justice and work with them to promote effective monitoring and implementation of the ACJA in Nigeria.

• PROMOTING ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN NIGERIA PROJECT 2018-2020.

AFRILAW is Enugu State project implementing partner for CLEEN Foundation’s Promoting Accountability and transparency in the Administration of Criminal Justice System in Nigeria with support from MacArthur Foundation. The project seeks to use technology through digitization of court proceedings/judgments and transparency in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

2019-2020 ACTIVITIES INCLUDE:

• Observation and monitoring court proceedings on cases of corruption and Financial Crimes at the Federal High Court using the teller app; collating court judgments on Financial Crime and Corruption cases and uploading them on UWAZI web platform (www.uwazi.io) on monthly basis; 
• Organizing the 5th and 6th Bi-monthly Enugu State Working Group Meetings
• Participating in the 5^th and 6^th Quarterly National Project Working Group Meeting. The 5^th Quarterly National Project Working Group Meeting was held in February, 2020, and the 6th National Working Group meeting was done virtually in September 2020 on a topic “Effective Utilization of Technology as Alternative means of Litigation during the COVID-19 pandemic with focus on Anti-Corruption. The objective of the meeting is to discuss/brainstorm on updates on the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015. 
• Weekly Radio Public Sensitization Programs on the effectiveness of Administration of Criminal Justice talk shows on issues surrounding the Administration of Criminal Justice in Enugu State. In furtherance of the effective implementation of the ACJA, AFRILAW as CLEEN Foundation’s implementing partner implemented the radio public sensitization in Enugu State. The activity featured key criminal justice experts like the Chief Registrar, Enugu State High Court, lawyers from the department of public prosecution, National Human Right Commission, state chairperson Federation of Women Lawyers etc, to discuss issues around the ACJA and the attendant challenges amongst other criminal justice issues that affect or can advance implementation. The activity took place at Dream FM Enugu.

• LEGAL ASSISTANCE REQUEST FORM FOR PERSONS IN NEED OF PRO-BONO LEGAL SERVICES AT THE ENUGU STATE HIGH COURT.

As part of its commitment to sustain the project outcomes, the Enugu State Working Group on the Project introduced a form for all accused persons who have no legal representation to fill in the forms and legal representative would be provided for them from the working group. 

• 1^ST BI-MONTHLY MEETING WITH STATE ACJMC

As part of the resolutions of the 5^th National Working Group Meeting, CLEEN liaised with the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC) at the federal levelto provide technical support to the ACJMC at the focal states, and Enugu is one of the pilot states. The 1st bi-monthly meeting held on Fri. 21^stAugust, 2020 virtually via zoom by 3:00pm.

Enugu State Bi-Monthly Working Group Meeting @ AFRILAW Conference Room

An enlightenment campaign program held through a radio phone in program at the Dreams 92.5 fm, Enugu.

Enugu State Working Group Advocacy Visit to Nigeria Correctional Services (NSC)

• 2020 MONITORING THE PANEL OF INQUIRY ON POLICE BRUTALITY AND EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLINGS

CLEEN Foundation is partnering with AFRILAW to monitor the activities and proceeding of the Panel constituted to look into petitions of the public on police brutality and extra-judicial killings in Enugu State. AFRILAW is CLEEN foundation’s Enugu partner. In November 2020, CLEEN Foundation with sponsorship from MacArthur Foundation partnered with AFRILAW to monitor the activities and proceeding of the Panel constituted by the Enugu State government to look into petitions of the public on police brutality and extra-judicial killings in Enugu State. The panel was proposed to sit for a period of six (6) months (between November 2020- May 2021), within which it will hear all petitions received, come up with its findings and recommendations on each petition, and give its report to the government of the State. The aim of the program is to ensure transparency and accountability in the dealings of the panel of inquiry.

• 2-DAY PUBLIC DISSEMINATION OF STUDY REPORTS ON COURT MONITORING FINDINGS ON THE COMPLIANCE OF THE ACJA 2015 AND REPORT OF ROUND 2 SURVEY ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ACJA 2015

AFRILAW is CLEEN foundation’s implementing partner for the court monitoring findings on the compliance of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and in the case of Enugu State, the Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2017. 

After all the activities of 2018-2019, AFRILAW as a partner to the project participated in a 2-day workshop to discuss the project so far and the level of compliance and implementation to the ACJL/ACJA CLEEN Foundation. This workshop was organized by CLEEN Foundation at the Bolton White Hotel, on Thursday 18th-Friday 19th February, 2021. 

Launching of Resource Center at the Enugu State High Court by Chief Judge of Enugu State

EVENTS AND PROGRAMMES PARTICIPATED BY AFRILAW UNDER THE PROJECT;

• Nigerian Policing Programme (NPP): AFRILAW participated as a member of Nigeria Policing Programme (NPP) CSOs/NHRC Coordinating Committee programmes and meetings in Enugu State in 2018. The Nigeria Policing Programme (NPP) project is been implemented by Coffey International and is funded by the British High Commission through the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund. The programme aims to improve the Nigerian Police Force’s contribution to the delivery of safety and security for Nigerians in target states; strengthen internal and external accountability mechanisms; and improve the coherence of security provision among and between formal and informal security actors. The program’s set of activities is being delivered at the Federal, state and local levels. The local states are: Borno, Enugu, Lagos, and Kano. In Enugu State, NPP will be working with the state police command with CPS as our pilot division.

• Remedy is the Reason Campaign: AFRILAW as a member of the OECD Watch Network participated in promoting the Remedy is the Reason campaign in partnership with the OECD Watch Network and SOMO, The Netherland in 2018. The aim of the campaign is to promote effective implementation of the OECD Guidelines and ensure that they remain a relevant instrument for promoting responsible business conduct and avoiding and remedying adverse impacts.
• Equator Banks, Act!’ Campaign: AFRILAW as a Core Group member of the Equator Principles Association (EPA) Campaign worked together with BankTrack, the Netherland to promote the Equator Banks, Act! Campaign in 2018.
• Access to Corporate Justice and Grievance Mechanisms: AFRILAW as a member of the International Advocates Working Group (IAWG) worked together with the network in promoting access to corporate justice and grievance/accountability mechanisms for poor and vulnerable communities in partnership with Accountability Counsel, USA in 2018.
• Human Rights in Development Financing: AFRILAW as a member of Coalition for Human Rights in Development, USA worked together with the network in promoting corporate accountability and respect of human rights by international financial institutions (World Bank/AfDB/NDB/IMF etc) from 2016-till date.
• Human Rights Defenders in Development: AFRILAW as a member of Global Human Rights Defenders in Development Campaign Advisory Committee worked together with the Coalition for Human Rights in Development, USA and CEE Bankwatch, Hungary in promoting protection of human rights defenders working in corporate accountability within the international financial institutions in 2018.
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Advocacy/Nigeria SDG 16 Campaign: In continuation of its Justice 2015 Campaign for inclusion of Justice in Post 2015 Development Agenda, in 2018 AFRILAW commenced the promotion of SDG Goal 16 and other related goals and targets through the Nigeria SDG 16 Campaign in partnership with TAP Network, Together 2030 and Global Legal Empowerment Network/Namati (2016-till date). AFRILAW is a member of Global Legal Empowerment Network, TAP Network and Together 2030. AFRILAW as work together in partnership with Global Legal Empowerment Network/Namati: Innovation for Legal Empowerment, USA, and support of Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) to successfully promote inclusion of justice in the Goal 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030.